Surely there was one among them who had been first to outfit himself in such a way. Had this man been pleased when the others imitated him, or annoyed, his individual sense of flair devalued by their emulation?

He stood there weeping and watching us go, while behind him Lucky Paul entered and collapsed the prospector’s tent, and I thought, Here is another miserable mental image I will have to catalog and make room for.

‘My feelings about San Francisco rise and fall with my moods. Or is it that the town alters my moods, thus informing my opinions?

I did not know what to say in response but the brandy implored me to blather on, and I was opening my jaws to do just this when some deeper reasoning took hold and I closed my mouth, maintaining my silence.

The food, I might mention, was unremarkable in every way other than its cost.

could not hear myself thinking, so clamorous was their buzzing.

Charlie was asleep on his back, eyes wide open, and with a full erection pressing against the front of his pants, which despite my not wanting to know about the thing I took as a sign of wellness.

‘It is always better to know for sure,’ he said, an obvious, somewhat idiotic statement to which I did not respond.

I do not regret that the man is dead but wish I had kept better hold of my emotions. The loss of control does not frighten me so much as embarrass me.