35
HEARD THIS ONE?
“I’m sorry, madam,” said the passport official, “but there is a mistake in your application form.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“You are described as a brunette instead of a blonde.”
“Dear me. Well,” with an obliging smile, “will you alter it—or shall I?”
The Advocate, 1933
Rowland kept his eyes on the bobbing tassel atop Alois Richter’s purple fez, in the press of milling travellers before him. The tailor led the way to the platform from which the Orient Express would soon embark, cleaving apart the crowd with determined swipes of his walking stick. Von Eidelsohn walked behind him with Edna. Clyde carried Sasha on his shoulders above the crush as they made their way to the first-class carriages.
The SA was a visible presence at the station, arrogantly strutting the
