Maid: I’ve never seen you before. I think you’re here the first time
Friend: I can’t quite recall where—but still—I don’t know, perhaps I’m mistaken. (Picks up book and reads): “The Political, Statistical, and Geographical Journal; or, The Contemporary History of the World. 1808. Third part. Third book. September.”—(Picks up another.)—“The Genius of the Times,” 1808.—“St. Petersburg Review”—“Northern Mercury”—all September, 1808.—Tell me, that is, er, tell me, what are these papers, old ones?
Maid: I don’t know; we don’t know anything about those things. (Lights the last candles.)
Friend: I don’t understand what sort of candles these are. They’re funny.
Maid: Funny? They’re the best sort of tallow.
Friend: Tallow? Listen. What does this all mean? Come, I entreat you, tell me what it’s all about? My head’s going round.—Oh! Why, you’re Baroness Nordman, or I’ve gone mad, or I’ve got hallucinations, or I’m dreaming!
Maid: But, sir!
Friend: You’re Baroness Nordman, whom I met only a year ago at the Sociological Society!
