ly has been written about the
caprices of this ruler, but genius always was peculiar."

After an impressive silence, Oswald resumes:

"Cares of empire have strange tendencies and special warrant."

Dreamily looking at Karl, Oswald then, as if in reverie, quotes:

"'And some among you held, that if the King
Had seen the sight, he would have sworn the vow;
Not easily, seeing that the King must guard
That which he rules, and is but as the hind
To whom a space of land is given to plow,
Who may not wander from the allotted field,
Until his work be done.'"

At another time there had been an animated discussion between Ivan
Shelgunoff and Karl Ludwig as to the comparative merits of Russian and
German dynasties, with the peculiar institutions of both countries.
Direct appeal being made to Oswald for an opinion, he avoids invidious
comparisons, and says:

"Nicholas II. is crowned head of an absolute dynasty. The royal line of
Romanoff succession found in him rightful representative of its august
power. Whatever may be said about the rigor of Russian rule and its
conflict with Nihilistic tendencies, the quarrel so far as pertains to
this young sovereign is that of a true inheritor.

"Nicholas succeeded to Russian policies as essential allies of his
crown. These are united in newly welded bonds of imperial wedlock. Their
divorce would be destruction of his throne.

"Representative liberty is a comparative ideal. The Russian peasant
enjoys frugal life with his family and few humble friends. Is it likely
that such feel the autocratic pressure of their Tsar? Perhaps there may
be many cases wherein private rights have been ruthlessly invaded, but
are not such results usually due to insolent perversions by minor
officials? Doubtless many innocent suspects are sent into hopeless exile
through official zeal, still like effects often result from similar
causes in liberal commonwealths."

Looking in questioning banter at Claude Leslie, Oswald says:

"It has been rumored that in the great republic beyond the Atlantic they
sometimes do a little 'railroading.'"

Tippoo Kalidasa is an interesting Hindu. With self-inflicted cognomen
and many eccentric notions about all sorts of subjects, Tippoo can talk
well and to the point. Though a professed disciple of modern Brahmanism,
he had deeply imbibed Buddhistical precepts and philosophy. The lessons
learned in childhood at his island home never