Session: 123456789101112131415161718192021         Page 206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241 of 1029

I said, “Well, I know you've been having a feud, but I could tell from the way you greeted each other that basically you're deeply fond of each other. I couldn't learn the directions to the house, so finally Douglas said, ‘I'll take you there myself.'”

Lawrence grumbled, “Well, it's an absolute outrage, but never mind.” Then he started telling me stories about Norman Douglas, and what a scoundrel Douglas was. We didn't have much time to talk about literature--he was too busy damning Douglas!

Then back came Douglas and Freda and the embraces continued as though there'd been no interlude. These two old fakers obviously were basically fond of each other!

We left finally, and the minute we started down the hill, Mr. Douglas, who had been slopping all over Freda seconds earlier, promptly resumed more scandalous stories about her that he'd forgotten to tell me before.

But this was an incredible meeting--for a young publisher to meet two literary giants like D. H. Lawrence and Norman Douglas together this way. I'll never forget it.

Then did you come back from Italy? Did you sail from Italy?

Yes, of course, I sailed. In those days there were no planes.

Then you took another trip, didn't you?