She brought the conversation back to his book; but there was a
little touch of scorn in her voice, as if she thought to herself, "I
suppose he is one of those people who can only talk on one subject--
his own doings." Her manner was almost brusque.

"Your novel has had a great success, has it not?" she asked.

He instantly perceived her thought, and replied with a touch of
dignity and a proud smile:

"On the contrary, it has been a great failure; only three hundred
and nine copies have been sold."

"I wonder at that," said Freda, "for one so often heard it talked
of."

He promptly changed the topic, and began to speak of the march past.
"I want to see Lord Starcross," he added. "I have no idea what a
hero is like."

Just then Lady Probyn came up, followed by an elderly harpy in
spectacles and false, much-frizzed fringe.

"Mrs. Carsteen wishes to be introduced to you, Mr. Vaughan; she is a
great admirer of your writings."

And poor Derrick, who was then quite unused to the species, had to
stand and receive a flood of the most fulsome flattery, delivered in
a strident voice, and to bear the critical and prolonged stare of
the spectacled eyes. Nor would the harpy easily release her prey.