Chapter3

    Athalf-pasttwelvedayLordHenryWottonstrolledfromCurzoovertotheAlbanytocallonhisuncle,LordFermenialifsomewhatrough-manneredoldbachelor,whomtheoutsideworldcalledselfishbecauseitderivednoparticularbefromhim,butwhowassideredgenerousbySocietyashefedthepeoplewhoamusedhim.HisfatherhadbeenourambassadoratMadridwhenIsabellawasyoungandPrimunthoughtof,buthadretiredfromthediplomaticserviacapriomentofannoyanotbeingofferedtheEmbassyatParis,aposttowhichhesideredthathewasfullyentitledbyreasonofhisbirth,hisindolehegoodEnglishofhisdispatches,andhisinordinatepassionforpleasure.Theson,whohadbeenhisfatherssecretary,hadresignedalongwithhischief,somewhatfoolishlyaswasthoughtatthetime,andonsucceedingsomemonthslatertothetitle,hadsethimselftotheseriousstudyofthegreataristocraticartofdoingabsolutelynothiwetownhouses,butpreferredtoliveinchambersasitwaslesstrouble,andtookmostofhismealsathisclub.HepaidsomeattentiontothemaofhiscollieriesintheMidlandties,exghimselfforthistaintofindustryonthegroundthattheoneadvantageofhavingcoalwasthatitenabledageoaffordthedecywoodonhisowh.InpoliticshewasaTory,exceptwheorieswereinoffice,duringwhichperiodheroundlyabusedthemforbeingapackofRadicals.Hewasaherotohisvalet,whobulliedhim,andaterrortomostofhisrelations,whomhebulliedinturn.OnlyEnglandcouldhaveproducedhim,andhealwayssaidthatthetrywasgoingtothedogs.Hisprincipleswereoutofdate,buttherewasagooddealtobesaidforhisprejudices.

    WhenLordHeeredtheroom,hefoundhisuinginaroughshooting-coat,smokingacherootand