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accent； and who； when he desired to be impressive； laid his right
forefinger on the right side of his nose and thrust his whole face forward。
Mrs。 Loveredge wondered why her husband had not introduced them
sooner； but was too blissful to be suspicious。 The Autolycus Club was
gradually changing its tone。 Friends could no longer recognise one
another by the voice。 Every corner had its solitary student practising
high…class intonation。 Members dropped into the habit of addressing
one another as 〃dear chappie；〃 and； discarding pipes； took to cheap
cigars。 Many of the older habitues resigned。
All might have gone well to the end of time if only Mrs。 Loveredge
had left all social arrangements in the hands of her husbandhad not
sought to aid his efforts。 To a certain political garden… party； one day in
the height of the season； were invited Joseph Loveredge and Mrs。 Joseph
Loveredge； his wife。 Mr。 Joseph Loveredge at the last moment found
himself unable to attend。 Mrs。 Joseph Loveredge went alone； met there
various members of the British aristocracy。 Mrs。 Joseph Loveredge；
accustomed to friendship with the aristocracy； felt at her ease and was
natural and agreeable。 The wife of an eminent peer talked to her and
liked her。 It occurred to Mrs。 Joseph Loveredge that this lady might be
induced to visit her house in Regent's Park； there to mingle with those of
her own class。
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〃Lord Mount…Primrose； the Duke of Warrington； and a few others will
be dining with us on Sunday next；〃 suggested Mrs。 Loveredge。 〃Will
not you do us the honour of coming？ We are； of course； only simple
folk ourselves； but somehow people seem to like us。〃
The wife of the eminent peer looked at Mrs。 Loveredge； looked round
the grounds； looked at Mrs。 Loveredge again； and said she would like to
come。 Mrs。 Joseph Loveredge intended at first to tell her husband of
her success； but a little devil entering into her head and whispering to
her that it would be amusing； she resolved to keep it as a surprise； to be
sprung upon him at eight o'clock on Sunday。 The surprise proved all
she could have hoped for。
The Duke of Warrington； having journalistic matters to discuss with
Joseph Loveredge； arrived at half…past seven； wearing on his shirt… front a
silver star； purchased in Eagle Street the day before for eight…and…six。
There accompanied him the Lady Alexandra； wearing the identical ruby
necklace that every night for the past six months； and twice on Saturdays；
〃John Strongheart〃 had been falsely accused of stealing。 Lord Garrick；
having picked up his wife （Miss Ramsbotham） outside the Mother
Redcap； arrived with her on foot at a quarter to eight。 Lord Mount…
Primrose； together with Sir Francis Baldwin； dashed up in a hansom at
seven…fifty。 His Lordship； having lost the toss； paid the fare。 The Hon。
Harry Sykes （commonly called 〃the Babe〃） was ushered in five minutes
later。 The noble company assembled in the drawing…room chatted
blithely while waiting for dinner to be announced。 The Duke of
Warrington was telling an anecdote about a cat； which nobody appeared
to believe。 Lord Mount…Primrose desired to know whether by any
chance it might be the same animal that every night at half…past nine had
been in the habit of climbing up his Grace's railings and knocking at his
Grace's door。 The Honourable Harry was saying that； speaking of cats；
he once had a sort of terrierwhen the door was thrown open and Willis
announced the Lady Mary Sutton。
Mr。 Joseph Loveredge； who was sitting near the fire； rose up。 Lord
Mount…Primrose； who was standing near the piano； sat down。 The
Lady Mary Sutton paused in the doorway。 Mrs。 Loveredge crossed the
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room to greet her。
〃Let me introduce you to my husband；〃 said Mrs。 Loveredge。 〃Joey；
my dear； the Lady Mary Sutton。 I met the Lady Mary at the O'Meyers'
the other day； and she was good enough to accept my invitation。 I
forgot to tell you。〃
Mr。 Loveredge said he was delighted； after which； although as a rule
a chatty man； he seemed to have nothing else to say。 And a silence fell。
Somerville the Brieflesstill then。 That evening has always been
reckoned the starting…point of his career。 Up till then nobody thought
he had much in himwalked up and held out his hand。
〃You don't remember me； Lady Mary；〃 said the Briefless one。 〃I met
you some years ago； we had a most interesting conversationSir Francis
Baldwin。〃
The Lady Mary stood for a moment trying apparently to recollect。
She was a handsome； fresh…complexioned woman of about forty； with
frank； agreeable eyes。 The Lady Mary glanced at Lord Garrick； who
was talking rapidly to Lord Mount…Primrose； who was not listening； and
who could not have understood even if he had been； Lord Garrick；
without being aware of it； having dropped into broad Scotch。 From
him the Lady Mary glanced at her hostess； and from her hostess to her
host。
The Lady Mary took the hand held out to her。 〃Of course；〃 said the
Lady Mary； 〃how stupid of me！ It was the day of my own wedding；
too。 You really must forgive me。 We talked of quite a lot of things。
I remember now。〃
Mrs。 Loveredge； who prided herself upon maintaining old…fashioned
courtesies； proceeded to introduce the Lady Mary to her fellow… guests； a
little surprised that her ladyship appeared to know so few of them。 Her
ladyship's greeting of the Duke of Warrington was accompanied； it was
remarked； by a somewhat curious smile。 To the Duke of Warrington's
daughter alone did the Lady Mary address remark。
〃My dear；〃 said the Lady Mary； 〃how you have grown since last we
met！〃
The announcement of dinner； as everybody felt； came none too soon。
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It was not a merry feast。 Joey told but one story； he told it three
times； and twice left out the point。 Lord Mount…Primrose took sifted
sugar with pate de foie gras and ate it with a spoon。 Lord Garrick；
talking a mixture of Scotch and English； urged his wife to give up
housekeeping and take a flat in Gower Street； which； as he pointed out；
was central。 She could have her meals sent in to her and so avoid all
trouble。 The Lady Alexandra's behaviour appeared to Mrs。 Loveredge
not altogether well…bred。 An eccentric young noblewoman Mrs。
Loveredge had always found her； but wished on this occasion that she
had been a little less eccentric。 Every few minutes the Lady Alexandra
buried her face in her serviette； and shook and rocked； emitting stifled
sounds； apparently those of acute physical pain。 Mrs。 Loveredge hoped
she was not feeling ill； but the Lady Alexandra appeared incapable of
coherent reply。 Twice during the meal the Duke of Warrington rose
from the table and began wandering round the room； on each occasion；
asked what he wanted； had replied meekly that he was merely looking
for his snuff…box； and had sat down again。 The only person who
seemed to enjoy th