Mr Brehgert, it
does sound odd. As for City people, you know as well as I do, that
that kind of thing is all over now. City people are just as good as
West End people.'

'A great deal better, I dare say. I'm not arguing about that. I don't
make the lines; but there they are; and one gets to know in a sort of
way what they are. I don't pretend to be a bit better than my
neighbours. I like to see people come here whom other people who come
here will like to meet. I'm big enough to hold my own, and so is Sir
Damask. But we ain't big enough to introduce newcomers. I don't
suppose there's anybody in London understands it better than you do,
Georgiana, and therefore it's absurd my pretending to teach you. I go
pretty well everywhere, as you are aware; and I shouldn't know Mr
Brehgert if I were to see him.'

'You'll meet him at the Melmottes', and, in spite of all you said
once, you're glad enough to go there.'

'Quite true, my dear. I don't think that you are just the person to
throw that in my teeth; but never mind that. There's the butcher round
the corner in Bond Street, or the man who comes to do my hair. I don't
at all think of asking them to my house. But if they were suddenly to
turn out wonderful men, and go everywhere, no doubt I should be glad
to have them here. That's the way we live, and you are as well used to
it as I am. Mr Brehgert at present to me is like the butcher round the
corner.' Lady Monogram had the tickets safe under lock and key, or I
think she would hardly have said this.

'He is not a bit like a butcher,' said Miss Longestaffe, blazing up in
real wrath.

'I did not say that he was.'

'Yes, you did; and it was the unkindest thing you could possibly say.
It was meant to be unkind. It was monstrous. How would you like it if
I said that Sir Damask was like a hair-dresser?'

'You can say so if you please. Sir Damask drives four in hand, rides
as though he meant to break his neck every winter, is one of the best
shots going, and is supposed to understand a yacht as well as any
other gentleman out. And I'm rather afraid that before he was married
he used to box with all the prize-fighters, and to be a little too
free behind the scenes. If that makes a man like a hair-dresser,
well, there he is.'

'How proud you are of his vices.'

'He's very good-natured, my dear, and as he does not interfere with
me, I don't interfere with him. I hope you'll do as well. I dare say
Mr Brehgert is good-natured