In Society it seemed to be the one thing
people really cared to talk about; men and women of middle age and
average education might be seen together in corners earnestly discussing,
not the question whether Servia should have an outlet on the Adriatic, or
the possibilities of a British success in international polo contests,
but the more absorbing topic of the problematic Aztec or Nilotic origin
of the Teresa _motiv_.
"Politics and patriotism are so boring and so out of date," said a
revered lady who had some pretensions to oracular utterance; "we are too
cosmopolitan nowadays to be really moved by them. That is why one
welcomes an intelligible production like 'Cousin Teresa,' that has a
genuine message for one. One can't understand the message all at once,
of course, but one felt from the very first that it was there. I've been
to see it eighteen times and I'm going again to-morrow and on Thursday.
One can't see it often enough."
* * * * *
"It would be rather a popular move if we gave this Harrowcluff person a
knighthood or something of the sort," said the Minister reflectively.
"Which Harrowcluff?" asked his secretary.
"Which? There is only one, isn't there?" said the Minister; "the 'Cousin
Teresa' man, of course. I think every one would be pleased if we
knighted him. Yes, you can put him down on the list of certainties--under
the letter L."
"The letter L," said the secretary, who was new to his job; "does that
stand for Liberalism or liberality?"
Most of the recipients of Ministerial favour were expected to qualify in
both of those subjects.
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