He said "Yes" and laughed. But he
became serious and in an advisory manner told me not to make many
complaints about the school.
"Talk to me only, if you want to. There are some queer guys around."
As we parted at the next corner, I did not have time to hear more from
him.
On reaching my room, the boss of the house came to me saying, "Let me
serve you tea." I expected he was going to treat me to some good tea
since he said "Let me serve you," but he simply made himself at home
and drank my own tea. Judging by this, I thought he might be
practising "Let me serve you" during my absence. The boss said that he
was fond of antique drawings and curios and finally had decided to
start in that business.
"You look like one quite taken about art. Suppose you begin patronizing
my business just for fun as er--connoisseur of art?"
It was the least expected kind of solicitation. Two years ago, I went to
the Imperial Hotel (Tokyo) on an errand, and I was taken for a
locksmith. When I went to see the Daibutsu at Kamakura, haying wrapped
up myself from head to toe with a blanket, a rikisha man addressed me as
"Gov'ner." I have been mistaken on many occasions for as many things,
but none so far has counted on me as a probable connoisseur of art.
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