I should hardly venture to present myself, and, therefore, shall feel surprised as well as flattered if you will receive Mr.Bassett on my introduction, and my assurance that he is a respectable country gentleman, and bears no resemblance in character to "Yours faithfully, "ARTHUR VANDELEUR." Next day Bassett called at Miss Somerset's house in May Fair, and delivered his introduction.
He was admitted after a short delay and entered the lady's boudoir.

It was Luxury's nest.

The walls were rose colored satin, padded and puckered; the voluminous curtains were pale satin, with floods and billows of real lace; the chairs embroidered, the tables all buhl and ormolu, and the sofas felt like little seas.

The lady herself, in a delightful peignoir, sat nestled cozily in a sort of ottoman with arms.
Her finely formed hand, clogged with brilliants, was just conveying brandy and soda-water to a very handsome mouth when Richard Bassett entered.
She raised herself superbly, but without leaving her seat, and just looked at a chair in a way that seemed to say, "I permit you to sit down;" and that done, she carried the glass to her lips with the same admirable firmness of hand she showed in driving.

Her lofty manner, coupled with her beautiful but rather haughty features, smacked of imperial origin.