To New York - at Mr. Bennett's invitation

The purpose of that first visit to the Islands of the Blessed was so that Mr. Bennett might cast an eye over me and my agent. He wished to buy the stage rights of The Naked Civil Servant.

Entering the United States I proffered my passport for the very first time in my life. A gigantic airport official examined it thoroughly before giving it back to me. When I thanked him and turned to go, he bent down and, in a very quiet voice, said, 'Is it nice to be vindicated at last?'

My spies are everywhere.

Though, at first glance, New York is less beautiful than Toronto - less airy, less golden - to me it was more exciting because it is the city of my dreams. The moment I caught sight of it, I wanted it and stretched my arms through the car window towards the skyscrapers like a child beholding a Christmas tree.

. . . we were the guests of Mr. Bennett. . . He arranged for us to live for two-and-a-half days in a splendor to which it would be ruinous to become accustomed. . . he took me on my last evening in New York, through various theaters of the Schubert group. . . Of all the snippets of entertainment that I sampled in this way the one that impressed me most was my glimpse of Mr. Borge. Except that he occasionally plays a few notes on the piano, he does less on stage than I do but to much more effect.

Among other celebrities I was introduced to Mr. von Sydow. He did not look God-ridden; he has a pink face, corn-gold hair and a handshake that could force you to your knees.

On the morning of my departure from New York Mr. Bennett, who had become aware of my infatuation with his native land, came to the hotel and presented me with a large American flag. All the way back to Heathrow I wore it as thought it were my college scarf.