_The London Venture_ MICHAEL ARLEN _By_ MICHAEL ARLEN _These Charming People_ _The Green Hat_ _"Piracy"_ _The London Venture_ _The Romantic Lady_ _The_ _London Venture_ _by_ _Michael Arlen_ _With Drawings by_ _MICHEL SEVIER_ [Illustration] _NEW YORK_ GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY _Copyright, 1920,_ _By George H. Doran Company_ [Illustration] THE LONDON VENTURE -- B -- PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA _To_ THE SISTER of SHELMERDENE APOLOGIA PRO NOMINE MEO Out of consideration (in part) to such readers as may read this book I have assumed a name by which they may refer to me (if ever he or she may wish to do so kindly) in the same manner at least twice running--a feat of pronunciation which few of my English acquaintances have performed with my natal name. But there is also another reason, considerate of the author. I have been told that there are writers whose works would have been famous if only their names could have been familiarly pronounced--Polish and Russian writers for the most part, I gather. Since I had already taken every other precaution but this to deserve their more fortunate fate, in changing my name I have, I hope, robbed my readers of their last excuse for my obscurity. _Dikran Kouyoumdjian._ "MICHAEL ARLEN." _The London Venture_: I [Illustration] THE LONDON VENTURE I