Without a hint of rancour and relaxing in good humour by the bar, the man who prompted comparisons with Hitler and the IRA and almost caused a protest march went public.

Bespectacled and dressed casually, he took in his stride the international media attention, sometimes perhaps a bit taken aback, but always polite and accommodating.

It was perhaps in his best interests. Yesterday Bermudians were talking about a protest march because of his presence on the Island. The Government said it deplored his racist attitudes.

People said having him on the Island was like having a member of the IRA or a member of Hitler's Third Reich.

Mr. Mark Fuhrman, the former Los Angeles Policeman who so appalled America during the O. J. Simpson trial, was, apparently, in Bermuda.

Yesterday, the man who sparked the Fuhrman fever went public. An attorney from Boston, aged 44 and married to his wife Amy. Mr. Mark Furman was innocently on vacation in Bermuda, staying at the St. George's Club.

All a bit embarrassing for the Government, which had confirmed the real Mr.

Fuhrman was, indeed, in Bermuda.

First, reports came out that Mark Fuhrman had flown in from Boston, then that he was staying at the Elbow Beach Hotel and then that he was in Hamilton. "I heard a reference to Mr. Fuhrman flying in from Boston, then I heard he was staying at Elbow Beach then I heard he was in Hamilton.

"It seemed it was everywhere we used our credit cards rumours started,'' said the attorney, Mr. Furman.

As the days wore on since his arrival last Saturday, Mr. Furman began to suspect more and more that, just maybe, he could be the cause of all the outcry.

"I became suspicious yesterday morning when I saw the newspapers and on Monday night when I saw the Minister on television,'' he said. "We heard that people had been coming to the Club and knocking on doors and we heard a number of tourists talking about Mark Fuhrman being here.

"We were coming back from the beach and one man was making a reference to that `no good Mark Fuhrman' being in Bermuda.'' That, it seems, decided it. Despite relaxing on holiday at the timeshare resort, he decided to put an end to the speculation and face the media. "I hope everything will be put to rest,'' he said.

On enjoying his 15 minutes of fame, he said: "It is humorous. I've lived my life in anonymity, but I would have preferred it was my own fame rather than someone else's.

And on the real Mark Fuhrman he said: "I think I was terribly offended by what he apparently stands for. It is outrageous.'' Since the O.J. Simpson trial ended, Mr. Furman has had to deal with some teasing from Judges and fellow attorneys while in court.

As for the last few days of his holiday in Bermuda, he said: "We are not going to use our credit cards again. We will use only cash.''