Mary Todd Lincoln's faux pas (plural), worse, and much worse

[David Lockmiller]

The Marquis wrote: "I did not stay too long, in order to let him rest, and escorted Mrs. Lincoln down to the parlor where she habitually receives."

The Marquis did not say: "I did not stay too long, in order to let him rest, and escorted Mrs. Lincoln and Clara Harris down to the parlor where she habitually receives."

It is my reading of the Marquis' words that the couple (the Marquis and Mrs. Lincoln) were joined by Clara Harris in "the parlor where [Mary] habitually receives." In other words, the "intimate trio" of the Marquis, Mrs. Lincoln, and Clara Harris was formed in Mary's receiving parlor after the Marquis and Mrs. Lincoln left President Lincoln alone.