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 !