again to report that a friend with whom he travelled
had just driven away to the hotel with all the baggage.

"And the bags?" cried the other, in a sort of horror.

"Yes, the bags, of course; but I 'll go after him. What 's the chief
hotel called?"

"The Trombetta."

"I don't think that was the name."

"The Czar de Russie?"

"No, nor that"

"Perhaps Feder?"

"Yes, that's it. Just send some one to show me the way, and I 'll be
back immediately. I suspect my unlucky breakfast must be prorogued to
luncheon-time."

"Not a bit of it!" cried a fine, fresh-looking, handsome man, who
entered the room with a riding-whip in his hand; "come in and take share
of mine."

"He has to go over to Feder's for the bags, Sir Joseph," whispered the
attache, submissively.

"Send the porter,--send Jasper,--send any one you like. Come along,"
said he, drawing his arm within Tony's. "You 've not been in Italy
before, and your first impression ought to be favorable; so I 'll
introduce you to a Mont Cenis trout."

"And I 'll profit by the acquaintance," said Tony. "I have the appetite
of a wolf."

CHAPTER XLV. A SHOCK FOR TONY

If Tony Butler took no note of time as he sat at breakfast with Sir
Joseph, he was only sharing the fortune of every man who ever found
himself in that companionship. From one end of Europe to the other
his equal could not be found. It was not alone that he had stores of
conversation for the highest capacities and the most cultivated minds,
but he possessed that thorough knowledge of life so interesting to men
of the world, and with it that insight into character which is so
often the key to the mystery of statecraft; and with all these he had
a geniality and a winning, grace of look, voice, and demeanor that
sent one from his presence with the thought that if the world could but
compass a few more like him, one would not change the planet for the
brightest in the firmament. Breakfast over, they smoked; then they had
a game at billiards; after that they strolled into the garden, and had
some pistol-firing. Here Tony acquitted himself creditably, and rose
in his host's esteem; for the minister liked a man who could do
anything--no matter what--very well. Tony, too, gained on him. His own
fine joyous nature understood at once the high-hearted spirit of a young
fellow who bad no affectations about him, thoroughly at his ease without
presumption; and yet, through that gentleman element so strong in him