{Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge (1816-1853), French woman
convicted in 1840 for poisoning her husband; later pardoned. Grizzel
Baillie = Lady Grizel Baillie (1665-1746), Scottish poet. William Pitt
= either William Pitt "the Elder" (1708-1778) or William Pitt "the
Younger" (1759-1806), both British Prime Ministers. Grace Darling =
Grace Darling (1815-1842), English heroine and lighthouse keeper's
daughter, famous for her rescue of castaways in 1838.}

I bowed an assent to the remark.

"And then she herself actually once made proposals for
Schinderhannes, to a friend of mine, offering Howard, the
philanthropist, Talma, William Penn, and Fenelon for him--all
commonplace enough, you know--and Schinderhannes quite unique.
My friend was indignant!"

{Schinderhannes = German bandit chief, executed in 1803. Howard =
John Howard (1726-1790), English philanthropist and prison reformer.
Talma = Francois Talma (1763-1826), popular French playwright.
William Penn (1644-1718), Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. Fenelon
= Francois Fenelon (1651-1715), French Archbishop and writer}

I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at
the time her stock of notabilities was low.

Miss Rowley shook her head, and curled her lip, as if she fancied the
lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain.

"On one point, however, I have carried the day, Mr. Howard. Lady