It is evidently a state of advanced civilisation, incomprehensible to the grosser European mind--a state where talking to a woman is considered to be hard work.

Or--in fear and trembling it is suggested--is it because they are not able to amuse their womankind?
Is their refusal a _testimonium paupertatis ingenii_?
No--perish the thought! It may have been so a long time ago, in the Golden Age.

This is not the Golden Age; it is the Age of Gold.

Messieurs! faites votre jeu! By degrees it became evident that Margaret wanted to talk about Russia, and Mr.Bellingham humoured her, and gave her a good view of the situation, and told anecdotes of the Princess Dolgorouki, and drew the same distinction between Nihilists and Republicans that Count Nicholas had made an hour earlier in the same room.

Seeing she was so much interested, Mr.Bellingham took courage to ask a question that had puzzled him for some time.