Saturday, 7th March
There is a great stir in Brooks's about the member who has been asked to resign, and won't go. He doggedly makes use of the library every day and even insists on privileges which the most hardened old members would not dare demand after half a century's membership. He has been so rude to the servants that in a body they informed the Secretary they would leave unless he did. Now there is to be an extraordinary meeting in order formally to expel him. Such a thing has never been known in the whole history of Brooks's. The offender is a vulgar, sinister-looking fellow, who prowls around the club. When he leaves a room the older gentlemen break into muffled whispers.
Wednesday, 18 March
A special meeting was held at Brooks's this afternoon formally to expel the member who has been rude to the servants and has used bad language. The Chairman announced that he had just received a letter from the member announcing his resignation after all, and promising never to cross the threshold of the club again. Great relief was expressed by everybody at this end to their embarrassment. Later in the day, I passed the man, looking unconcerned and truculent under the arcade of the Ritz. Instantly I felt sorry for him and wondered why he had behaved like this. I can quite understand why, if one senses that one is disliked, one is impelled to make oneself detested.
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