Rose of the World by Egerton Castle — Read

The chief guest of the Lieutenant-Governor this evening was one Dr. Chatelard, a French savant of world-wide reputation, author of "La Psychologie Feminine des Races. " Scientist -- he had begun his career as a doctor, had specialised in nervous complaints, narrowed his circle again to _les neuroses des femmes_; and, after establishing a school of his own, had gradually (though scarcely past the middle life) retired from active practice and confined himself to studying, teaching, and writing. The first volume of his "Psychologie" -- under the distinctive heading "La femme Latine" -- had created a sensation not only in the scientific world, where the author's really valuable contributions to observation and treatment could not fail to be recognised, but also among that self-same irresponsible yet charming class which formed the subject-matter of his investigation.

Here, indeed, the physician's light turn of wit, the palpitating examples he cited, with a discreet use of asterisks, set up a great flutter. _Madame la Marquise_ was charmed when she recognised, or believed to recognise, _cette chere Comtesse_ in a singularly eccentric case. Friends hunted for each other eagerly through the delicately veiled pages. Now and again a fair whilom patient would plume herself upon the belief that no other identity but her own could fit that of _Madame D -- -- , cette exquise sensitive_. (M. Chatelard clung to style while he revolutionised science.) It is no wonder, perhaps, that the book should have had a greater vogue than the last scandalous novel. A second volume, "L'Orientale," was in course of conception. Indeed, it was the occasion of that tour in the East which brought M. Chatelard to India and, incidentally, under Sir Arthur Gerardine's roof.