662 EIGHT FURTHER TALES OF THE UNExPECTED was wellspoken. He as well dressed. He was a real gentleman reason 1 knew he was a gentleman was because of his shoes. You can always spot a gentleman by the shoes wears, mother's favourite sayings. This man had beautiful brown s My "The truth of the matter the little man was saying. I've got myself into a bit of a scrape. I need some help. Not much l assure almost nothing, in fact, but 1 do need You see, madam, old 'It's a people like me often become terribly forgetful My mother's chin was p and she was staring down at him alon "It's s the full length of h nose. It was a fearsorne thing. t tare of my mother s Most people go to pieces completely when she gives it to them. 1 once saw my own headmistress and simper like an idiot when my mother gave her a really foul egin to stammer can get noser. But the little man on the pavement with the umbrella over his head didn't bat an eyelid. He gave a gentle smile and said, 1 beg to believe, madam, that am not in the habit of stopping ladies in th street and telling them my troubles. l should hope not, my mother said quite embarrassed by my mother's sharpness. I wanted to say looked to her. Oh, mummy, for heaven's sake. he's a very very old man, and s sweet and polite, and he's in some sort of trouble, so don't be pounds, beastly to him." But l didn't say anything. The little man shifted his umbrella from one hand to the other. 1 never forgotten it before," he said Not You've never forgotten what?" my mother asked sternly. My wallet,' he said. I must have left it in my other jacket. Isn't that the silliest thing to do? she was Are you asking me to give you money? my mother said. Oh, good gracious me, no! he cried. "Heaven forbid I should ever to the li do tha Then what are you asking?" my mother said. "Do hurry up We're getting soaked to the skin here. ow you are," he said. "And that is why Im offering you this umbrella of mine to protect you, and to keep forever, if if only If only what? my mother said. If only you would give me in return a pound for my taxi-fare just did. He to get me home. My mother was still suspicious. If you had no money in the first place," she said, then how did you get here? l walked," he "Every day l go for a lovely long walk and titled pe then I summon a taxi to take mp hom