The King of the Cats

"BUT, my dear," said Mrs. Culverin, with a tiny gasp, "you can't actually mean-a tail!" Mrs. Dingle nodded impressively. "Exactly. I've seen him. Twice. Paris, of course, and then, a command appearance at Rome-we were in the Royal box. He conducted-my clear, you've never heard such effects from an orchestra-and, my dear," she hesitated slightly, "he conducted with it." "How perfectly, fascinatingly too horrid for words!" said Mrs. Culverin in a dazed but greedy voice. "We must have him to dinner as soon as he comes over-he is coming over, isn't he?" "The twelfth," said Mrs. Dingle with a gleam in her eyes. "The New Symphony people have asked him to be guest-conductor for three special concerts-I do hope you can dine with us some night while he's here-he'll be very busy, of course-but he's promised to give us what time he can spare--"