1855-56 MEETS CARDINAL WISEMAN 23 
London is the place, after all, for interchange of 
thought.’ 
In this month Owen ‘ met Cardinal Wiseman 
at a dinner party at a neighbour’s house.’ 
In a letter to his sisters he says : — 
The Cardinal was attended by two priests, 
and there were two or three others of different 
rank, including the pastor of their small chapel at 
Mortlake. A very handsome dinner : about half 
a dozen ladies. The Cardinal astounded me by 
his attire ; it was a spectacle to behold, and, as you 
know I was always fond of scarlet, it was quite 
pleasant to have his Eminence opposite me at 
the table. He wore a close-fitting Eastern tunic 
and tights, of purple edged with crimson, fitting 
close to the throat and at the wrists, Turkish 
fashion ; short lace ruffles at the wrist, a close 
white stock round the neck, covered by the ribbon 
of an Order. Below the tights appeared the crim- 
son silk stockings, shoes, and large rich buckles. 
Over his dress he wore a rich stiff crimson cloak. 
With a broad embroidered margin, without sleeves, 
attached round the neck by a broad embroidered 
band. A large jewelled gold cross was suspended 
by a long enamelled chain, and rested on his com- 
fortably prominent stomach. On his crown was 
a shallow round scarlet skull-cap. He made an 
excellent dinner ; contrasting it, however, wdth 
one he had assisted at, at the Bishop of Malines’, 
in his route through Belgium, and which lasted 
