text:  There was nothing in the world less romantic than my position in the midst of a circle of sneering footmen; and as if to put romance for ever out of the question I was relieved from my plumed and mantled encumbrance only by the assistance of Townshend then the prince of Bow Street officers; who knowing every thing and every body informed me that the lady was a person of prodigious rank and that he should 'feel it his duty ' before he parted with me to ascertain whether her ladyship's purse had not suffered defalcation by my volunteering