SIR ALEXANDER AND STEPHEN It was just at this moment that I saw standing by me a fine-looking, stout man with a square, grey beard and a handsome, but not very good-tempered face.

He was looking about him as one does who finds himself in a place to which he is not accustomed.
"Perhaps you could tell me, sir," he said to me, "whether a gentleman called Mr.Somers is in this room.

I am rather short-sighted and there are a great many people." "Yes," I answered, "he has just bought the wonderful orchid called 'Odontoglossum Pavo.' That is what they are all talking about." "Oh, has he?
Has he indeed?
And pray what did he pay for the article ?" "A huge sum," I answered.

"I thought it was two thousand three hundred shillings, but it appears it was L2,300." The handsome, elderly gentleman grew very red in the face, so red that I thought he was going to have a fit.

For a few moments he breathed heavily.
"A rival collector," I thought to myself, and went on with the story which, it occurred to me, might interest him.
"You see, the young gentleman was called away to an interview with his father.