Unexpected Comedy at the Shuttered Palace

Since my alt wiped out her Persuasive in the course of Seeking (long story), she is in the process of rebuilding it, slowly. In attempting to impress others at the Duchess’s Salon, a failure revealed this amusing bit of text:

&quotA captive audience?

You hold forth convincingly on political economy to an audience of two elegantly dressed dowagers and one of the Duchess’ cats. All seems well for a half hour. You surprise yourself with the brilliance of some of your own observations. Alas, it finally becomes apparent that the dowager on the left is stone deaf, and has simply been nodding at you through sheer force of etiquette. The dowager on the right, you suddenly realise, expired peacefully some time before or during your speech, and has simply been propped up with her calm milky gaze fixed directly on you all this time. At least the cat seems impressed. You make a quiet exit before anyone accuses you of boring the poor woman to death.&quot
edited by cathyr19355 on 1/12/2017

That is… an impressive piece of writing. Congratulations on an excellent performance, and our condolences to the family of the dowager whom you most assuredly in all probability might not have bored to death.

Ah, it’s not my writing; it’s Failbetter’s writing, of course. I had not seen it previously because I did not have a character at 25 Persuasive for years and years, and when I last did, I was able to go to Court. But I agree with the condolences for the Dowager I sincerely hope my alt didn’t bore to death!