[Darryl]

Vin,

Smugness is usually associated with a notion of class. I have no pretensions in that respect. So you may rest easy, I am not wallowing in smugness or anything of the kind. Thank you, however, for your concern and I do see how you might have come to that erroneous conclusion.

As to musing - v – boozing. They are, in my estimation, very much the same thing but I would never encourage idleness in pursuit of the latter.

Now, on the off chance that you are not merely being provocative, I will address the subject of the Autobiographer’s identity. You “legal eagles” have a term - Proximate Cause. Were I to be a family member, who had asked for the name to be kept secret, I would hold Alex somewhat responsible if something he wrote gave details which led to some smug-esque, drunken antipodean guessing the name and then blurting it all over the Aerodrome like some peripatetic minstrel or deranged Town Crier. Likewise, the giving of even such obscure hints as you suggested, might be considered “bad form”.

I have no wish to put Alex (who has from time to time been very generous to me with his time and research) in an awkward position, even by proxy.

In any event, it is enough for we poor creatures of the West to know that someone’s business is their own and that they wish to keep it that way.

As you have said, the extract is hearsay and, however enlightening or interesting, does not provide any shattering evidence that demands “who said that?” be asked before finally committing BB to whichever fate it is that one believes he deserves.

I remain, for the greater part, respectfully yours

Darryl