ight, speak of what land, what
event, what person he pleased, the Colonel was ready for him. It was
marvellous, indeed,--so very marvellous that to a suspicious mind it
might have occasioned distrust,--with how many great men he had been at
school, what shoals of distinguished fellows he had served with. With
a subtle flattery, too, he let drop the remark that he was not usually
given to be so frank and communicative. "The fact is," said he, "young
men are, for the most part, bad listeners to the experiences of men
of my age; they fancy that they know life as well, if not better, than
ourselves, and that our views are those of 'bygones.' _You_, however,
showed none of this spirit; you were willing to hear and to learn from
one of whom it would be false modesty were I not to say, Few know more
of men and their doings."

Now Tony liked this appreciation of him, and he said to himself, "He
_is_ a clever fellow,--not a doubt of it; he never saw me till this
evening, and yet he knows me thoroughly well." Seeing how the Colonel
had met with everybody, he resolved he would get from him his opinion
of some of his own friends, and, to lead the way, asked if he was
acquainted with the members of the English Legation at Turin.'

"I know Bathurst,--we _were_ intimate," said he; "but we once were in
love with the same woman,--the mother of an empress she is now,--and as
I rather 'cut him out,' a coldness ensued, and somehow we never resumed
our old footing. As for Croker, the Secretary, it was I got him that
place."

"And Damer,--Skeff Damer,--do you know him?"

"I should think I do. I was his godfather."

"He's the greatest friend I have in the world!" cried Tony, in ecstasy
at this happy accident.

"I made him drop Chamberlayne. It was his second name, and I was vain
enough to be annoyed that it was not his first. Is he here now?"

"Yes, he is attached to the Legation, and sometimes here, sometimes at
Naples."

"Then we 'll make him give us a dinner to-day, for I shall refuse
Bathurst: he is sure to ask me; but you will tell Darner that we are
both engaged to _him_."

Tony only needed to learn the tie that bound his newly made acquaintance
with his dearest friend, to launch freely out about himself and his new
fortunes; he told all about the hard usage his father had met with,--the
services he had rendered his country in India and elsewhere, and the
ungenerous requital he had met for them all. "That is why you see me
h