On returning to my
lodgings, I found a note from Lady Holberton, requesting to see me,
and, of course, immediately obeyed the summons.
"Lost!--lost!--lost! Mr. Howard!" said the lady, endeavoring to conceal
her emotion, as she gave me the details of her affliction.
"It must have been stolen--basely stolen--on the evening of my
party. Oh! why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people,
and collectors among them, too! Never again will I admit more than
one collector at a time into the room with my album!" she exclaimed
with energy.
I was shocked; surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible
that any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct?
"How little you know them! But it is that, Mr. Howard, which has
interested me in your favor--you have so much naivete, and
ignorance of the moral turpitude of the old world, that I feel
convinced you never could be guilty of such an action yourself."
I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice;
and, in fact, a theft of the kind she alluded to appeared to me all but
incredible.
"Remember that it was only the other day that ----- lost his
invaluable album; remember that last winter Madame de ----- had all
her notes on botanical subjects stolen from her own portfolio--and I
could mention a dozen instances of the same wickedness."
These facts were already known to me, but I had forgotten them.
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