"At the present moment I believe he's engaged in trying to efface the Indian Empire. Bit of a Socialist, you know," I added. "May I smoke?"
"What d'you mean?"
"Doesn't she know the word? Smoke, my dear. Draw into and expel from the mouth the fumes of burning tobac—"
"Idiot! About the Little Englander."
I explained.
"And now," I said, with a wave of my cigarette, "behold me once more at your service. The gentle art of bathing, madam, is of considerable antiquity. In classical times the bath played a very prominent part in the everyday existence of the cleanly nut. Then came a dead period in the history of personal irrigation. Recently, however, the bath-rate has once more gone up, immersion is again in vogue, and to-day in the best circles scarcely a month passes without—
"And these"—she swept the nobility with a glance—"are the upper ten!"
"Precisely. You can tell that from their polish."
"Rather exclusive, aren't they?"
"Collectively, yes, madam. Individually, they will receive you with open arms. Only last night an order arrived from—"