I asked him once why with such a gift he had not tried his fortune on the stage.

At which he laughed, and replied that he could never be bound by rules of art, or forced to sing, whatever his humour, to an audience for which he cared nothing.

I do not know why I dwell so long upon this extraordinary man.

His path of life has chanced to run side by side with my own for a short space, and the two have now branched off, nor in all likelihood will ever meet again.

My life has been a quiet one, and has not lain much in the way of extraordinary men, but I doubt if many such as Simon Colliver exist.