Petticoat Rule

BY BARONESS ORCZY
AUTHOR OF THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL, I WILL REPAY, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, ETC.
HODDER & STOUGHTON NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
Copyright, 1909, By Baroness Orczy
Copyright, 1910, By George H. Doran Company
TO THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON THE KIND FRIEND WHOSE APPRECIATION HAS CHEERED ME, THE IDEALIST WHOSE WORK HAS GUIDED ME, THE BRILLIANT INTELLECT WHOSE PRAISE HAS ENCOURAGED ME This Book is Dedicated IN TOKEN OF ADMIRATION, REGARD, AND FRIENDSHIP
EMMUSKA ORCZY

D'Aumont!
Eh? d'Aumont!
The voice, that of a man still in the prime of life, but already raucous in its tone, thickened through constant mirthless laughter, rendered querulous too from long vigils kept at the shrine of pleasure, rose above the incessant babel of women's chatter, the din of silver, china and glasses passing to and fro.
Your commands, sire?