cotch 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 the dinner was the Lady
Mary Sutton.

The ladies retired upstairs into the drawing-room. Mrs. Loveredge,
breaking a long silence, remarked it as unusual that no sound of
merriment reached them from the dining-room. The explanation was that
the entire male portion of the party, on being left to themselves, had
immediately and in a body crept on tiptoe into Joey's study, which,
fortunately, happened to be on the ground floor. Joey, unlocking the
bookcase, had taken out his Debrett, but appeared incapable of
understanding it. Sir Francis Baldwin had taken it from his unresisting
hands; the remaining aristocracy huddled themselves into a corner and
waited in silence.

"I think I've got it all clearly," announced Sir Francis Baldwin, after
five minutes, which to the others had been an hour. "Yes, I don't think
I'm making any mistake. She's the daughter of the Duke of Truro, married
in '53 the Duke of Warrington, at St. Peter's, Eaton Square; gave birth
in '55 to a daughter, the Lady Grace Alexandra Warberton Sutton, which
makes the child just thirteen. In '63 divorced the Duke of Warrington.
Lord Mount-Primrose, so far as I can make out, must be her second cousin.
I appear to have married her in '66 at Hastings. It doesn't seem to me
that we could have got together a homelier little party to meet her even
if we had wanted to."

Nobody spoke; nobody had anything particularly worth saying. The door
opened, and the Lady Alexandra (otherwise Tommy) entered the room.

"Isn't it