The San Francisco call., 1905-04-09

a still fool that ran deep. He had
been in debt ever since a princes
whim had given him cornetcy in the
Tenth Hussars; the episode now meant
10 him only another ruined Jew, and
fresh fight for his Kashmerian but
terhy career.
He took snuff with nonchalant grace
from buhl snuffbox-he had one for
each day in the yesr-and touched his
rouged lips with a lace handkerchief of
royal rose-point. His prestige had
never been higher. nor his insolence
more accurately applied than on this
evening of the last Of the Dandy Balls.
The club tables. wnere ordinarily
We're grouped players at whist and
hazard, had vanished: brackets hold
ing glass candelabra were distributed
along the walls and the pink shaded
glow OF myriads of wax tapers was
reflected from mirrors set crosswise
in every angle and surrounded by
masses of flowers. The great tapes
tried ballroom hundred feet in
length-in which Madame Catalini
had given her famous concerts and
Kean his readings from Shakespeare.
was decorated With gilt columns. pi-
candles in cut glass lusters. A string
orchestra played behind a screen or
palms and a miniature stage had been
built across the lower end of the
room.
Here were gathered the oligarchs of
fashion and the tyrants of ton. The
dandies-Pierrepont Alvanley, Peter
sham, the fop lieutenants and poodle
loving worshipers of Brummell-with
gold buckles glittering in their
starched stocks, and brave in tight
German trousers and jeweled eye
glasses, preened and ogled among So
berer wearers Of greater names and
ladies Of title, whose glistening shoul-
ders and bare arms flashed whitley
through the shifting stir of bright col
ors.
On the broad stair, under the chan
deliers of crystal and silver, in the
balroon-whereve the groups and
the gossip moved that evening. one
name was on every tongue. The Sc
ries Of t2bieauX rehearsed under di-
rection Of Lady Heathcote. and the
new Quadrille introduced from Paris
bv Lady Jersey, the features of the
evening, were less speculated upon
than was George Gordon. The Kissing
al Drury Lane had several new ver-
siOns, and there were more sensational
stories aaoat. 1t was said he had en-
tered Brookes' Club the day before,
where no one had spoken to him: that
the Horse Guards had had to be sent
for to prevent his being mobbed in
Palace Yard as he attempted to enter
the House of Lords. Ii was even con-
Edently asserted that a motion was to
be introduced in Parliament to sus-
pend him from his privileges as a
peer
Lady Jersey, stately in black velvet
and creamy lace, met John Hobhouse
on the stair.
Have you seen him?" she asked
anxiously.
No, but l have called every day.
II was outrageous OF you to send him
the Invitation for tonight. No other
pauOness would have dared
] only wish he would camel" she
flashed inperiously. 'One would
think we were a lot of New England
witch hunters There is nothing more
ridiculous than society in one of its
seven-year fits of morality. Scandals
are around US every day, but we pay
no heed till the spasm of outraged
virtue takes us. Then we pick out
some one by mere caprice, hiss him,
cut him-make a whipping-boy to be
lashed from our doors. When We are
satisfied we give our drastic virtue
chlorOform and put it TO sleep for an
other seven years"
Hobhouse smiled grimly at the
ed on TO the lower room, where the
quadrille was TO have its final re-
hearsal Lady Jerseys was despotic
rule. She Was as famous for her dip
lomacy as for her Sunday parties
More than one debate had been post
poned in Parliament to avoid a con-
f.ict with one Of her dinners. Gordon
he reflected, could have no more pow
erful ally.
He ascended to the ballroom,
where the tabieauX We're oozing pa
tiertly with transient gushes of ap-
probation; Solomon and the Queen OF
Sheba," with Lady Heathcote as the
queen; "Tamerlane the Great" posed
by a giant officer of the footguards in
suit Of chainmail-and subjects
drawn from heather mythology.
The last number, a mOnolOgue, was
unnamed, but word had gone forth
that the performer was to be Lady
Caroline Lamb.
Slowly the curtain was drawn aside
and a breath Of applause stirred as
Lady Caroline was revealed in COM
plete Greek costume, with short blue
skirt and round jacket. its bodice cut
square and low and its sleeves white
from elbow TO wrist. In that congress
of beauties, decked in the stilted con-
ventions Of Mayfair modistes the at
tire had touch of the barbaric which
suited its wearer's tyDe-a touch ac-
centuated by ehe jade beads about her
throat and the dagger thrust through
her girdle.
The iddles Of the orchestra had be-
gun to play, as prelude, the music Of
the Greek love-song Gordon had writ
ten, long ago made popular in London
drawing-rOons. and Maid d-of-Athensl"
was echoed here and there from the
floor.
The figure on the stage swept slow
glance about her, her cheeks dark and
red from some under-excitement She
waved her hand. and from the wings
came a procession of tiny pages dressed
oS imps. all in red.
A murmur Of wonder broke from the
crowd Lady Caroline's vasaries were
well known and her wayward devisings
were never without sensation.
What foolery OF Cafo's can this
be2" oueried Brummell to Petersham
as the first page set up a tripod and
the second placed upon it a huge metal
salver.
The whole room was rustling. for il
was clear. from the open surprise of
the committee. that this was a feature