While Rome Burns

"Whitlock reports that on that desk and in that embassy, no paper was ever, by any chance, out of place. But he says nothing about the despotism, at once comical and terrifying, whereby that order was maintained. Nor does he tell with what bated breath the Marquis was always served. Nor how each thread of the embassy life, however trivial, had to lead to Villalobar's one available hand. Even when finally the vast concerns of America and England were added to the French and Spanish business, Villalobar would have only one telephone in the embassy. You see, he wanted to hear each message. It might be only the market calling up about the cauliflower. No matter. The Marquis would take the message. It might be a light-o'-love calling up the young third secretary. The Marquis would take that, too. If a picture postcard came for the cook, the Marquis saw it before the cook did…" 'While Rome Burns' is a collection of humorous sketches written by Alexander Woolcott. He writes on diverse topics such as the exploits of an eccentric Spanish diplomat to Washington, his friend Harpo's odd behavior and the tale of a woman who vanished at the World Exposition in Paris, among others.