Chapter One
MEN AND WOMEN
Certain aspects of Washington, both outward and
inward, are like Paris. Especially is this true of
the outward aspect on a wet night, when the circles
of yellow-flaring gas lamps are reflected in the shining
expanse of asphalt, when the keen-flashing
electric lights blaze upon the white façades of
great buildings and the numerous groups of statuary
against a black background of shrubbery,
and when some convention or other brings crowds
of people to swarm upon the usually dull Washington
streets. The Honourable Geoffrey Thorndyke,
M.C., spoke of this Parisian resemblance to his
colleague, the Honourable Julian Crane, M.C.,
as they sat together on a warm, rainy April night
in the bay-window of Thorndyke's apartment.
The rooms were lofty, wide, and dark, according
to the style of forty years ago, and overlooked one
of those circular parks in Washington which fash-
