At least that was what he hoped. He had not expected to return to London so early in the day and had thought if he dined with anyone it would be the following evening. Now he told himself that there was no point in waiting. He despatched a quickly scribbled note to the Contessa saying that, if it was convenient, he would call on her at seven-thirty that evening. He gave the note to his secretary and he told him to send a groom with the letter to the Contessa and to wait for an answer. He was sure that it was extremely unlikely to be anything but in the affirmative. The Contessa’s house, which was South of Hyde Park, was in its way like every other house in the Crescent. The Contessa was clever enough to give it an individual touch which was as alluring and unusual as herself. Diplo

