That is quite modern--one often reads similar paragraphs nowadays concerning the visits of novelists to the Engadine, or to Khartoum; and if Byron did not go quite so far as to speak publicly of his forthcoming work as "a colossal undertaking," he managed, without saying so, to convey the impression that that was what it was. He also contrived to have the proofs shown, as a great privilege, to the right people, and was careful to let the critics have advance copies with a view to notice on the day of publication. Dallas himself reviewed it before the day of publication, and was excused on the ground that his indiscretion had proved "a good advertisement." The privileged women--Lady Caroline Lamb was among them--enchanted by the sentiment of the poem, boasted to the women who were not so privileged, and besought an introduction to the poet. "I must see him. I am dying to see him," was Lady Caroline's exclamation to Rogers. "He bites his nails," Rogers maliciously warned her; but she persisted as vehemently as ever. She was to see him presently, in circumstances and with consequences which we shall have to note. In the meantime many striking stories concerning him were floating about for her to hear. She heard, for instance--or one may suppose her to have heard--of that dinner-party at Rogers' house at which Byron distinguished himself by his abstemiousness, refused soup, and fish, and mutton, and wine, asked for hard biscuits and soda-water, and, when Rogers confessed himself unable to provide these delicacies, "dined upon potatoes bruised down upon his plate and drenched with vinegar." Let us hope that she never heard the end of the story which proceeds, in "Table Talk of Samuel Rogers": "I did not then know, what I now know to be a fact, that Byron, after leaving my house, had gone to a Club in Saint James's Street and eaten a hearty meat-supper." And, of course, her interest, like the interest of the rest of the world, was stimulated by Byron's maiden speech in the House of Lords. Galt says quite bluntly that "there was a degree of worldly management in making his first appearance in the House of Lords so immediately preceding the publication of his poem." Most probably there was. When so many logs were rolling, this particular log was hardly likely to be left unrolled; and there is no denying that the note of self-advertisement does sound in the speech quite as loudly as the note of sympathy with the common people--those Nottingham rioters and frame-breakers for whose suppression it was proposed to legislate.