To its smaller dinner parties, which were the object of so many social ambitions, nobody was admitted who could not bring a personal contribution.

Dukes had no more claim than other people, but as most of the twenty-eight were blood-relations of the house, and some Dukes are agreeable, they took their turn.

Cabinet Ministers, Viceroys, Ambassadors, mingled with the men of letters and affairs.

There was indeed a certain old-fashioned measure in it all.

To be merely notorious--even though you were amusing--was not passport enough.