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Yet he was not really reckless, at any rate in his relations to

society. Once or twice every month during the winter, and on each

Wednesday evening while the season lasted, he would throw open to

the world his beautiful house and have the most celebrated

musicians of the day to charm his guests with the wonders of

their art. His little dinners, in the settling of which Lord

Henry always assisted him, were noted as much for the careful

selection and placing of those invited, as for the exquisite

taste shown in the decoration of the table, with its subtle

symphonic arrangements of exotic flowers, and embroidered cloths,

and antique plate of gold and silver.