from the ship's captain.
Arriving at my destination- the car was unshipped and I proceeded home by road. Each morning I dressed in leisure wear for motoring and, having paid my bill the night before, slipped out the back entrance of the hotel before the staff were about, and away through the lovely countryside with the sun just coming up. In the late afternoon some few miles short of my day's object- ive, I would drive off the road into some secluded spot and there change back before proceeding into town to a hotel. Altogether a marveloug experience with no mid- adventures except when a large and predatory baboon emerged from the bush.. When I was standing in bra and girdle only, and after scaring me silly snatched my one and only best shoes and disappeared back into the under- growth.
After some months I became more than a little bored with my own company and decided that at all costs I must develop a small circle of acquaintances. As I knew absolutely no other FP's. I made up my mind to disclose my way of life to four old and reliable friends and their wives and to appeal for their sympathetic ac- ceptance. I invited them all to call on me for a martini session one evening and dressed carefully for the occas- ion. I pinned on the front door a cheerful little note saying "Out for fifteen minuted" Martinis are mixed, please go inside and help yourself. I remained in my bedroom until they were all well into their second drinks and then made my entry saying "I know this will be a considerable superise to you and I apoligize, but will you please give me first a martini and secondly a fair hearing while I tell you what it's all about". They were literally speechless, but after I had briefly and simply put my case to them they could'nt have been nicer, particularly the wives. I must, in passing, say that since then my secret has been disclosed to a con- siderable number of others. And no one has ever been in any way offended or antagonistic. FPs would do well to realize that really nice people the world over, after learning about them, be just as nice as they themselves are able and prepared to merit. If you are a self-inter- ested, unsociable, over-scented, charmless bore when dressed and in company of people, they will look down
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