The dignified oak door of the British Club, with its brass door knocker polished to a shine, reflected the faint winter sunlight.
Arthur brushed the thin snow off his cloak and, led by a servant, entered the main hall.
As the door opened, a wave of warmth mixed with the aromas of tobacco and tea rushed to greet him.
The club's hall was decorated as exquisitely as ever, with several oil paintings depicting English countryside scenes hanging on the walls, and the oak bookshelves filled with classics shipped from London.
From these collections, it was evident that although "The British" had large circulation in Britain, the genre of fashion novels ultimately did not highlight refinement as well as classical literature.
