第75部分(第6/7 頁)

arge。

A　few　days　later　my　daughter　and　I　were　entertained　at　luncheon　at　the　White　House；　to　which　we　went　straight　from　another　luncheon；　where　we　were　also　entertained　by　citizens　of　note　in　Washington。

It　was　a　most　amusing　meal。　Especially　do　I　recollect　Mr。　Roosevelt’s　ic　sketch　of　the　anticipated　details　of　a　forthing　meeting　between　himself　and　the　Swiss　Minister；　who　was　attending　at　the　White　House　to　present　his　credentials。

“He；”　he　said；　“will　stand　in　a　fine　uniform　and　read　a　lot　of　rot　to　me　in　French；　while　I　shall　stand　opposite　to　him　and　read　a　lot　of　rot　in　English。　And　that’s　what　they　call　the　high　ceremonies　of　diplomacy！”

“It　is　an　odd　thing；　Mr。　Haggard；”　he　said；　as　he　entered　the　private　drawing…room　after　luncheon；　“that　you　and　I；　brought　up　in　different　countries　and　following　such　different　pursuits；　should　have　identical　ideas　and　aims。　I　have　been　reading　your　book；　‘Rural　England；’　and　I　tell　you　that　what　you　think；　I　think；　and　what　you　want　to　do；　I　want　to　do。　We　are　one　man　in　the　matter”；　or　words　to　that　effect。

I　could　only　answer　that　I　was　extremely　glad　to　hear　it。

I　may　add　that　I　was　not　wrong　in　supposing　that　the　President　would　try　to　put　these　ideas　into　action；　as　indeed　is　shown　by　his　famous　Conservation　Act；　the　passing　of　which　he　subsequently　brought　about；　also　by　many　other　of　his　administrative　deeds。　Further；　should　he　ever　return　to　power　again；　I　am　convinced　that　he　will　push　on　along　these　lines。

In　proof　of　what　I　say　—　since；　before　proceeding　with　the　account　of　my　American　mission；　I　think　that　for　convenience’s　sake　it　will　be　well　here　to　finish　the　story　of　my　relations　with　President　Roosevelt　—　I　will　quote　the　substance　of　a　note　I　made　of　an　inter