The Winged Beetle

MR TODD 195 CARR. There’s better duchesses in Burke than ever came out of it, Mrs. Ossory. By the way, unless rumour lies, the jade ! you can fly much higher than a paltry Duchess ! MRS. OSSORY. Why, why, what do you mean ? Oh, dear Professor, how sweet of you ! Or are you joking ? Somehow one never knows whether you are serious or not ! But you wouldn’t make fun of my embarrassments— Society is so serious, isn’t it ? But, oh do ! do tell me what they say ! CARR. Well, Mrs. Ossory—you know our mysterious friend ? MRS. OSSORY. Mr. Todd ? CARR. Yes. Well, they say that—he is a King in his own country. MRS. OSSORY. And I’ve always disliked and distrusted him so ! But perhaps that was just the natural awe that I suppose one must always feel, even when one doesn’t know, you know. I wonder, now, if we could get him to a little dinner. One could always pretend one didn’t know who he was ! Let me see, now ! Caviar de Sterlet Royale—— CARR. Consommé royale, sole à la royale, timbale royale à l’empereur, bouchées à la reine, asperges à la royale, haunch of royal venison—can’t insult him with mere baron of beef—pouding royale, glace . . . l’impératrice, canapé royale—you’ll be able to feed him all right ! MRS. OSSORY. How clever you are, Professor ! Thank you so much. Now who should we ask to meet him ? CARR. I rather expect you’ll have to meet him alone !