London, as a city, is not afraid of contrasts :
it almost lives by them. Other cities have their censors ; shame or fear. Here, everything is in the open. The English are, on the other hand, notoriously shy ; they cannot bear the sight of dogs' matings, nor even some biblical texts. One can, for instance, confiscate a Joyce novel in that country which boasts of its freedom. The London prosti- tutes are, from their outward appearance, quite well- meaning, and might be members of the Salvation Army. The fig-leaf that London would bestow upon Cupid would certainly be made to measure. But one goddess here has the right to roam about stark naked, and she would not be stopped by good-natured policemen, while even the most zealous Quaker would not reprove her in anger. Her name is Fortune. She is impeccable. From her horn pour pounds sterling, as well as guineas. She is led arm in arm by Mercury. As a god he may be without a top hat, but, if he be a frequenter of the City, he is adorned with a top hat and will have a baronet's title, for which he paid cash down, in advance. * * * *
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