Then we were just a little too big a hotel party.

Every morning I drove down to the old hole of a Chancery and remained about two hours.

There wasn't very much work to do; and my main business was to become acquainted with the work and with people--to find myself with reference to this task, with reference to official life and to London life in general.
Every afternoon people came to the hotel to see me--some to pay their respects and to make life pleasant, some out of mere curiosity, and many for ends of their own.

I confess that on many days nightfall found me completely worn out.

But the evenings seldom brought a chance to rest.
The social season was going at its full gait; and the new ambassador (any new ambassador) would have been invited to many functions.