Of course, you know that some of our so-called noble families in England spring from anything but a noble origin.

There are not a few English dukes and earls who would find it rather awkward to introduce their great-great-grandmothers to their present circle of friends." "I should think they would, from what I have read of them, the shameless creatures!" said Mrs van Huysman, with a sniff of real republican virtue.
Then the Prince joined them, and the conversation was promptly switched off on to another line of interest.
Tea was served on the Old Lawn under the shade of the great cedars, which made its greatest adornment; and when everybody had had what he or she wanted, and the men had lit their cigarettes--and the Professors, by special permission, their pipes--Nitocris looked across a couple of tables at Oscarovitch, whom she had so far managed most adroitly to keep at an endurable distance, and said: "Now, Prince, if your friend the Adept is in the mood to astonish us with his wonders, perhaps you will be good enough to tell him that we are all ready and willing to be startled--only I hope that he will be merciful to our ignorance and not frighten us too much." "I can assure you, Miss Marmion, that my good friend from Egypt will be discretion itself," replied the Prince, with a look and a courtly gesture that inspired Commander Merrill with an almost passionate longing to take him down one of the quiet paths under the beeches for a ten minutes' interlude.

"I can promise that he will show you some marvels which even your learned and distinguished father and his _confreres_ may find difficult of explanation: but it shall all be white magic.

I understand that your real adept considers the black variety as what you call bad form." As the company rose and went in little groups towards the tennis-lawn, where Phadrig had elected to display his powers, the three Professors instinctively joined each other in a small phalanx of scepticism.

If there was any trick or deception to be discovered all looked to them to do it, and they were almost gleefully aware of their responsibility.
Figuratively speaking, they each wore the scalps of many spiritualistic mediums, and both Professor van Huysman and Professor Hartley sensed a possible addition to their belts of scientific wampum which would not be the least of their trophies.