Some of these latter are in the habit of stating that London is the hub of Europe and the Talleyrand smoking-room its grease-box.
Certain is it that such men as Claude de Chauxville, as Karl Steinmetz, and a hundred others who are or have been political scene-shifters, are to be found in the Talleyrand rooms.
It is a quiet club, with many members and sparse accommodation.

Its rooms are never crowded, because half of its members are afraid of meeting the other half.

It has swinging glass doors to its every apartment, the lower portion of the glass being opaque, while the upper moiety affords a peep-hole.

Thus, if you are sitting in one of the deep, comfortable chairs to be found in all these small rooms, you will be aware from time to time of eyes and a bald head above the ground glass.
If you are nobody, eyes and bald head will prove to be the property of a gentleman who does not know you, or knows you and pretends that he does not.

If you are somebody, your solitude will depend upon your reputation.
There are quite a number of bald heads in the Talleyrand Club--bald heads surmounting youthful, innocent faces.