'THE RELUCTANT LEGIONNAIRE' SIR,—Spirits (both sorts), manners and style apart,
I should be grateful if you would allow me to establish several practical points arising from Strix's review of my book The Reluctant Legionnaire.
1. I do not consider I 'double-crossed' the Daily Mirror.
2. For reasons which I am prepared to explain personally to your reviewer I am con- tent that 'the chivalrous Monsieur M. is entirely unidentifiable.
3, The British Consul at Lisbon did not, as far as I am aware, 'lend himself to any illegalities' in bringing Fenton ashore. The necessary clearance was first obtained from the Portuguese authorities.
4. I did not quote a suggestion in the French press that 'the Legion connived at Fenton's escape.' The article I quoted does no more than suggest that they intended 'to get rid of him after a short delay,' i.e., sack him.
I agree with your reviewer that my book is hardly in the tradition of Hope, Orczy. or Fleming, but they don't sell so well these days. —Yours faithfully,
MICHAEL ALEXANDER 40 Harrington Road, SW7
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