Chapter 2

           Athalf-pasttwelvenextdayLordHenryWottonstrolledfromCurzonStreetovertotheAlbanytocallonhisuncle,LordFermor, agenialifsomewhatrough-manneredoldbachelor,whomtheoutsideworldcalledselfishbecauseitderivednoparticularbenefitfromhim, butwhowasconsideredgenerousbySocietyashefedthepeoplewhoamusedhim. HisfatherhadbeenourambassadoratMadridwhenIsabellawasyoung,andPrimunthoughtof, buthadretiredfromtheDiplomaticServiceinacapriciousmomentofannoyanceatnotbeingofferedtheEmbassyatParis, aposttowhichheconsideredthathewasfullyentitledbyreasonofhisbirth,hisindolence,thegoodEnglishofhisdespatches, andhisinordinatepassionforpleasure. Theson,whohadbeenhisfather’ssecretary,hadresignedalongwithhischief,somewhatfoolishlyaswasthoughtatthetime, andonsucceedingsomemonthslatertothetitle,hadsethimselftotheseriousstudyofthegreataristocraticartofdoingabsolutelynothing. Hehadtwolargetownhouses,butpreferredtoliveinchambers,asitwaslesstrouble,andtookmostofhismealsathisclub. HepaidsomeattentiontothemanagementofhiscollieriesintheMidlandcounties,excusinghimselfforthistaintofindustryontheground thattheoneadvantageofhavingcoalwasthatitenabledagentlemantoaffordthedecencyofburningwoodonhisownhearth. InpoliticshewasaTory,exceptwhentheTorieswereinoffice,duringwhichperiodheroundlyabusedthemforbeingapackofRadicals. Hewasaherotohisvalet,whobulliedhim,andaterrortomostofhisrelations,whomhebulliedinturn. OnlyEnglandcouldhaveproducedhim,andhealwayssaidthatthecountrywasgoingtothedogs. Hisprincipleswereoutofdate,buttherewasagooddealtobesaidforhisprejudices. 

           WhenLordHenryenteredtheroom,hefoundhisunclesittinginaroughshootingcoat,smokingacheroot,andgrumblingoverTheTimes.