Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/148

 When the imitations were over H. H. thought it would be amusing to go off to see the original, so he and Marconi drove to the Haymarket. Between the acts a note came round asking them to go to Sir Herbert's dressing-room, where they had a most interesting and witty talk, which was interrupted by a loud knocking at the door by the call-boy. Sir Herbert turned to Marconi with his familiar gesture.

"Tell me," he said, "what is the play?"

"Richard III," replied Marconi.

"Ah, thank you, thank you," said Sir Herbert, as he made his farewells.

H. H. had a great many friends among dramatists and musicians. Sir Arthur Sullivan, who was dining with him one night, amused the company by describing a recent tour through America where one town turned out en fête to welcome him. The streets were decorated and he was met by a band. He felt extremely flattered at receiving such a welcome in the Wild West, until he learnt that he had been mistaken for Sullivan the prize-fighter, "the Sullivan" as the local editor put it.

In those days it was a popular saying that Sir Arthur Sullivan could never remember the numbers of his friends’ town residences but always told the cabman: "I don't know the number but the door-knocker is B flat."

Colonial Governors were frequently among H. H.'s guests at the House of Commons, and he enjoyed nothing more than listening to the news they brought of the political and industrial progress of our far-flung dependencies.

One night the late Duke of Argyll, ex-Governor of Canada, and Lord Ranfurly, ex-Governor of New