somewhat incomprehensible complaint that her husband's duties forced
her to live in that fog-bound metropolis, and having thus achieved the
pedestal of a martyr, she poured abuse on everything English from
climate to customs. Possessed of a certain social dexterity and the
ability to make the most ordinary conversation seem to concern a
forbidden topic, Madame Carlotti was in great demand as a guest, and
abused more English habits and attended more dinner-parties than any
other woman in London.

From beneath seven tradesmen's letters she extracted one from Lady
Durwent.


'8 CHELMSFORD GARDENS,

'DEAREST LUCIA,--I am counting on you for next Friday. A young
American author studying England--I suppose like that Count
Something-or-other in _Pickwick Papers_--is coming to dinner. I
understand he drinks very little, so I am relying on you to thaw him.

'Stackton Dunckley _insists_ upon coming, though I tell him that it is
dangerous; and of course people are saying dreadful things, I know. He
is _so_ persistent. There will be just half-a-dozen _unusual_ people
there, my dear, so don't fail me. Dinner will be at 8.30.--So
sincerely, SYBIL DERWENT.

'P.S.--Don't you think you could make Stackton interested in you? Your
husband is away so much.'