He belonged to the best clubs and went occasionally to the best parties.

His tailor had a habitation in Sackville Street, and his gloves came from the Burlington Arcade.

He often lunched at the Berkeley and frequently dined at Willis's.

Also he had laughed at the antics of Arthur Roberts, and gazed through a pair of gold-mounted opera-glasses at Empire ballets and at the discreet juggleries of Paul Cinquevalli.

The romance of cloistered saintliness was not his.