His Lordship's Leopard: A Truthful Narration of Some Impossible Facts

A witty, tongue‑in‑cheek narrative unfolds as a self‑styled “leopard” prowls through the corridors of English high society, turning everyday rituals into a parade of absurdity. The author, drawing on his own embassy experiences, mixes factual anecdotes with outlandish humor, letting the reader watch respectable gentlemen and ladies stumble into comically exaggerated predicaments. The tone is breezy yet sharp, exposing the pretensions of the elite while keeping the laughter rolling from start to finish.

The story follows Cecil Banborough, a dandy with a cigarette perched between his lips, who drifts through Fifth Avenue’s bustling parade of flags and fanfare during a contentious war. His preoccupation with promoting his sensational novel, “The Purple Kangaroo,” is constantly interrupted by the clamor of foreign visitors and the frantic press. As Cecil navigates this chaotic tableau, the narrative offers a lively snapshot of a society distracted by pomp, politics, and the occasional bewildering encounter with a leaping leopard‑like wit.