Chapter III

           Therewasatimewhenamaninsearchofthepleasuresofgossipsoughtthesocietyofladies.Themanknowsbetternow.Hegoestothesmoking-roomofhisclub.

           DoctorWybrowlithiscigar,andlookedroundhimathisbrethreninsocialconclaveassembled.Theroomwaswellfilled;buttheflowoftalkwasstilllanguid.TheDoctorinnocentlyappliedthestimulantthatwaswanted.WhenheinquiredifanybodyknewtheCountessNarona,hewasansweredbysomethinglikeashoutofastonishment.Never(theconclaveagreed)hadsuchanabsurdquestionbeenaskedbefore!Everyhumancreature,withtheslightestclaimtoaplaceinsociety,knewtheCountessNarona.AnadventuresswithaEuropeanreputationoftheblackestpossiblecolour—suchwasthegeneraldescriptionofthewomanwiththedeathlikecomplexionandtheglitteringeyes.

           Descendingtoparticulars,eachmemberoftheclubcontributedhisownlittlestockofscandaltothememoirsoftheCountess.Itwasdoubtfulwhethershewasreally,whatshecalledherself,aDalmatianlady.ItwasdoubtfulwhethershehadeverbeenmarriedtotheCountwhosewidowsheassumedtobe.Itwasdoubtfulwhetherthemanwhoaccompaniedherinhertravels(underthenameofBaronRivar,andinthecharacterofherbrother)washerbrotheratall.ReportpointedtotheBaronasagambleratevery’table’ontheContinent.