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｛Schinderhannes = German bandit chief； executed in 1803。 Howard =
John Howard （1726…1790）； English philanthropist and prison reformer。
Talma = Francois Talma （1763…1826）； popular French playwright。 William
Penn （1644…1718）； Quaker founder of Pennsylvania。 Fenelon = Francois
Fenelon （1651…1715）； French Archbishop and writer｝
I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at the
time her stock of notabilities was low。
Miss Rowley shook her head； and curled her lip； as if she fancied the
lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain。
〃On one point； however； I have carried the day； Mr。 Howard。 Lady
Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq； but I have obtained one far
superior to hers； one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant too。 I
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called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into writing me a
note。〃
｛Vidocq = Francois Vidocq （1775…1857）； French police detective who
turned robber； and was exposed in 1832。｝
I wondered； in petto； whether I should meet any illustrious convicts at
Miss Rowley's party the next evening； but remembering to have heard her
called an exclusive； it did not seem very probable。
｛in petto = silently； to oneself （Latin）｝
After running her eye over the list again； Miss Rowley made another
inquiry。
〃Mr。 Howard； could you get me something from an American
Colonel？〃
I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts； and begged to know
what particular variety she had placed on her cataloguewas it an officer
of the regular service； or one of no service at all？
〃Oh； the last； certainlyofficers who have seen service are so
commonplace！〃
My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal； as my
sword would have been； had I owned one。 As I had been called colonel a
hundred times without having commanded a regiment once； my own name
was as good as any other on the present occasion。
〃You are very obliging。 Since you are so good； may I also trouble you
to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your countrya
very distinguished manhe has been President； or Speaker of the Senate；
or something of that sort。〃
To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude？
〃He is called Uncle Sam； I believe。〃
｛Uncle Sam = 〃Uncle Sam〃 became a popular personification of the
United States during the War of 1812； replacing Brother Jonathan； and was
often used in contradistinction to the British 〃John Bull〃｝
This was not so easy a task； for though we have thousands of colonels；
there is but one Uncle Sam in the world。 On hearing that such was the case；
Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased immeasurably； but I
assured her the old gentleman only put his name to treaties； and tariffs；
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and although his sons were wonderfully gallant； yet he himself had never
condescended to notice any woman but a queen regnant： and I further
endeavored to give some idea of his identity。 Miss Rowley stopped me
short； however。
〃Only procure me one line from him； Mr。 Howard； and I shall be
indebted to you for life。 It will be time enough to find out all about him
when I once have his namethat is the essential thing。〃
I shrunk from committing myself； however； declaring that I would as
soon engage to procure a billet…doux from Prester John。
｛Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a
powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia； later identified with the
Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa｝
〃Prester John！ That would； indeed； be quite invaluable！〃
This Asiatic diversion was a happy one； and came very apropos； for it
carried Miss Rowley into China； she inquired if I had any Chinese
connections。
〃Though altogether； I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese
negotiations； as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the civilized
world； I engaged an agent there to collect for me。 But； could you put me
on the track of a Confucius？〃
｛opened to the civilized world = following the so…called Opium War；
Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her｝
I was obliged to admit my inability to do so； and at the same moment
the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr。 T…； drew their
attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself were conversing； as
they moved toward us； Miss Rowley pocketed her list； throwing herself
upon my honor not to betray the deficiencies in her role d'equipage； or the
collecting negociations just opened between us。 Lady Holberton； as she
advanced； invited Miss Rowley； with an ill…concealed air of triumph； to
feast her eyes once more on the Lumley autograph； and not long after the
party broke up。
｛role d'equipage = muster roll （French）； here； Miss Rowley's list of her
autographs｝
The next day； in passing Holberton…House； I observed the chariot of a
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fashionable physician before the door； and at Miss Rowley's party in the
evening learned from Mr。 T… that Lady Holberton was quite unwell。
The following morning I called to inquire； and received for answer that
〃her ladyship was very much indisposed。〃 It was not until a week later that
I saw Lady Holberton herself； taking the air in Hyde Park。 She looked
wretchedlythin and pale。 I inquired from the English friend with whom I
was riding； if there was any probability of a change of ministry？ He
looked surprised； and then catching the direction of my eye； he observed；
〃You ask on Lady Holberton's account； but Sir A… B… tells me
her illness was caused by the loss of the Lumley Autograph。〃
This unexpected intelligence proved only too true。 On returning to my
lodgings； I found a note from Lady Holberton； requesting to see me； and；
of course； immediately obeyed the summons。
〃Lost！lost！lost！ Mr。 Howard！〃 said the lady； endeavoring to conceal
her emotion； as she gave me the details of her affliction。
〃It must have been stolenbasely stolenon the evening of my party。
Oh！ why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people； and collectors
among them； too！ Never again will I admit more than one collector at a
time into the room with my album！〃 she exclaimed with energy。
I was shocked； surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible that
any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct？
〃How little you know them！ But it is that； Mr。 Howard； which has
interested me in your favoryou have so much naivete； and ignorance of
the moral turpitude of the old world； that I feel convinced you never could
be guilty of such an action yourself。〃
I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice；
and； in fact； a theft of the kind she alluded to appeared to me all but
incredible。
〃Remember that it was only the other day that … lost his invaluable
album； remember that last winter Madame de … had all her notes on
botanical subjects stolen from her own portfo