CHAPTER FOURThe Duke of Alrock arrived in Paris and went straight to the house in the Champs-Élysées where he always stayed with his friend the Vicomte de Flerry.
After they had enjoyed a glass of champagne and discussed the political situation in both their countries, the Vicomte said,
“Tonight I am taking you to a party.”
The Duke groaned.
“I would much rather have had dinner with you,” he said, “at Maxim’s for preference.”
“We can go there another night, but I think you will find this particular party something very special.”
The Duke raised his eyebrows a little cynically.
He knew what a ‘special’ party in Paris meant, and he told himself that he was not at the moment at all interested.
“It is being given,” his friend was saying, “by one of the richest Bankers in Paris, who is
