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offering my bold idea. We have a daughter, Louise, who has just come out this season. She is young, bin we are very, very proud of her. She is quite extraordinary — lovely and accomplished.
    Her French is fluent. She likes travel. I am suggesting baldly that you, being a single gentleman, consider uniting yourself with our family through marriage to our daughter. I should like to fill pages with her accomplishments, but, I think, these days young people like to meet and decide these things a little for themselves. I invite you to come visit us at your convenience. We return to our home in New York shortly. Perhaps you would consider coming this spring .
    I do not doubt that a gentleman such as yourself has had many fathers propose such arrangements. What gives me such nerve, then? On such short acquaintance, no less? Well, I like to think you were as affected by our company as we were by yours. In truth, however, it is Louise herself who gives me courage, for I know I have a remarkable daughter. She has gathered many suitors here — she is greatly sought after — but Isabel and I agree that we like none so well for our dear Lulu as we do you. Please forgive this impertinence, if that is what it is, but I could not resist speaking my heart's desire. Let us hear from you on this matter as soon as is possible .
    Yours most truly,
    Harold P. Vandermeer
    19 February 1902
    Nice, France
    My dear sir,
    I am most flattered by the kind words and offer in your recent letter. My business concerns, however, devour all my time for the present. A trip to America for me is out of the question. I thank you for your generous compliments but must respectfully decline visiting you and meeting, I am sure, your very delightful daughter.
    I look forward to our continuing, mutually rewarding business relationship.
    Yours most truly,
    Charles Harcourt, Prince d'Harcourt
    March 2, 1902
    Miami
    Your Highness,
    I, of course, respect your decision not to pursue my presumptuous (but enthusiastic and good-intentioned) offer.
    Mitchell, in port in Nassau — with a remarkable seventy-eight pounds of ambergris — has mentioned to me you wish to purchase the entirety of this windfall. I am very glad you wish to expand our business association. (A son-in-law, you realize, could own the whole fishing fleet and have, at cost, all the whale bile he could gather — this is a little joke meant to tweak your n ez.) Please understand that we have several other regular buyers whom we must keep minimally happy. I have told Mitchell, though, that you are to have the best price and the majority of the haul .
    I write to you from Miami still. We remain at our "winter" home while I negotiate new docking space for my cargo line. Be assured that our invitation to visit remains open here or anywhere you may find us. You would love Miami, I think — small but very sophisticated and so full of strange, sweet-smelling flowers that, once you smelled them, you would be mad to add to your botanical garden .
    Sincerely yours,
    Harold Vandermeer
    PS. Please forgive a father's pride: I enclose a photograph of my own sweet flower, my daughter, Louise.
    March 30, 1902
    New York
    Your Highness,
    I thought I might have success where my husband has failed. Harold and I still talk incessantly of our trip to the Riviera. What a fine time! And the high point was the time we spent as your house guests. We do so wish you would consider a trip to America. We would not mention the word
    "marriage" or even hint or say a word to Louise. You could come as a friend, discuss new shipping and supplying arrangements with Harold — and meet our Lulu and just see how the two of you got along .
    Meanwhile, your cousin, Gaspard, has introduced himself to us. He is such a polite young gentleman. We enjoy having him around. He seems quite taken with Louise (but. alas, we are holding out for a full-blooded prince — ha, ha!) He does look a bit like von, though, which makes Harold and I sigh and