“Oh, stay with me, then!” I said to her. “You know how unsociable I am; I feel sure that I shall be stupid.” At the time fixed my visitors were announced. This was the first time I had come into contact with any members of the English aristocracy, and I have always had since a very pleasant memory of it. Lady R—— was extremely beautiful, and the Duchess was so gracious, so distinguished and so kind that I was very much touched by her visit. A few minutes later Lord Dudley called. I knew him very well, as he had been introduced to me by Marshal Canrobert, one of my dearest friends. He asked me if I would care to have a ride the following morning, and said he had a very nice lady’s horse which was entirely at my service. I thanked him, but I wanted first to drive in Rotten Row. At seven o’clock Hortense Damian came to fetch me to dine with her at the house of the Baroness M——. She had a very nice home in Prince’s Gate. There were about twenty guests, among others the painter, Millais. I had been told that the _cuisine_ was very bad in England, but I thought this dinner perfect. I had been told that the English were cold and sedate. I found them charming and full of humor. Everyone spoke French very well and I was ashamed of my ignorance of the English language. After dinner there were recitations and music. I was touched by the gracefulness and tact of my hosts in not asking me to say any poetry. I was very much interested in observing the society in which I found myself. It did not in any way resemble a French gathering. The young girls seemed to be enjoying themselves on their own account and enjoying themselves thoroughly. They had not come there to find a husband. What surprised me a little was the _décolleté_ of ladies who were getting on in years and to whom time had not been very merciful. I spoke of this to Hortense Damian. “It’s frightful!” I said. “Yes, but it’s _chic_!” She was very charming, my friend Hortense, but she troubled about nothing that was not _chic_. She sent me the “_Chic_ commandments” a few days before I left Paris. Chester Square, tu habiteras. Rotten Row, tu monteras. Le Parlement visiteras. Garden-parties fréquenteras. Chaque visite, tu rendras. A chaque lettre, tu repondras. Photographies, tu signeras. Hortense Damain, tu écouteras, Et tous ses conseils, les suivras. (In Chester Square thou shalt live. In Rotten Row thou shalt ride. Parliament thou shalt visit. Garden parties thou shalt frequent. Every visit thou shalt return. Every letter thou shalt answer. Photographs thou shalt sign. To Hortense Damian thou shalt listen, And all her counsels thou shalt follow.)