Soon afterwards we trooped down to dinner, during which I learned more of my inside than I knew before, and more of that of Lady Bagshawe than any of her most fervent adorers in their wildest dreams could have ever hoped to ascertain; during which, also, I endeavoured to convince an unknown, but agreeable lady on my left that I did not play polo, whereat, it seemed, her eight brothers were experts; and that Omar Khayyam was a contemporary not of the Prophet Isaiah, but of William the Conqueror.

As for the setting--I am not an observant man--but I had an impression of much gold and silver and rare flora on the table, great gold frames enclosing (I doubt not) costly pictures on the walls, many desirable jewels on undesirable bosoms, strong though unsympathetic masculine faces, and such food and drink as Lucullus, poor fellow, did not live long enough to discover.
When the ladies retired, and we moved up towards our host, I found myself between two groups; one discussing the mercantile depravity of a gentleman called Wilmot, of whom I had never heard, the other arguing on dark dilemmas connected with an Abyssinian loan.

A vacant chair happening to be by my side, Adrian, glass in hand, came round the table and sat down.
"How are you getting on ?" "Well," said I."Very well." I sipped my port.

I recognised Cockburn 1870.
"You seemed rather at a loose end." "When one has 1870 port to drink," said I, "why fritter away its flavour in vain words ?" "It is damned good port," Adrian admitted.
"Earth holds nothing better," said I.
We lapsed into silence amid the talk on each side of us.

I confess that I rather surrendered myself to the wine.