Americanos."

Half-an-hour later Mr. Vandewaters was standing in a conspicuous corner
talking to Lady Lawless.

"It is, then, your first visit to England?" she asked. He had a dry,
deliberate voice, unlike the smooth, conventional voices round him. "Yes,
Lady Lawless," he replied: "it's the first time I've put my foot in
London town, and--perhaps you won't believe it of an American--I find it
doesn't take up a very conspicuous place."

The humour was slightly accentuated, and Lady Lawless shrank a little, as
if she feared the depths of divertisement to which this speech might
lead; but a quick look at the man assured her of his common-sense, and
she answered: "It is of the joys of London that no one is so important
but finds the space he fills a small one, which may be filled acceptably
by some one else at any moment. It is easy for kings and princes even--we
have secluded princes here now--to get lost and forgotten in London."
"Well, that leaves little chance for ordinary Americans, who don't bank
on titles."

She looked up, puzzled in spite of herself. But she presently said, with
frankness and naivete: "What does 'bank on titles' mean?"

He stroked his beard, smiling quaintly, and said: "I don't know how to
put the thing better-it seems to fill the bill. But, anyway, Americans
are republicans; and don't believe in titles, and--"

"O, pardon me," she interrupted: "of course, I see."