ended all
my knowledge of his history, had not a letter, of which I send you an
extract, resumed the narrative. The writer is the Princess Sabloukoff,
a lady of whose attractions and fascinations you have often heard me
speak. When you have read, and thought over the enclosed, let me have
your opinion. I do not, I cannot, believe in the rumor you allude
to. Glencore is not the man to marry at his time of life, and in
his circumstances. Send me, however, all the particulars you are in
possession of. I hope they don't mean to send you to India, because
you seem to dislike it. For my own part, I suspect I should enjoy that
country immensely. Heat is the first element of daily comfort, and all
the appliances to moderate it are _ex-officio_ luxuries; besides that in
India there is a splendid and enlarged selfishness in the mode of life
very different from the petty egotisms of our rude Northland.

If you do go, pray take Naples in the way. The route by Alexandria and
Suez, they all tell me, is the best and most expeditious.

Mellish desires me to add his remembrances, hoping you have not
forgotten him. He served in the "Fifth" with you in Canada,--that is, if
you be the same George Harcourt who played Tony Lumpkin so execrably at
Montreal. I have told him it is probable, and am yours ever,

H. U.

CHAPTER XXXV. HARCOURT'S LODGINGS

When Harcourt had finished the reading of that letter we have presented
in our last chapter, he naturally turned for information on the subject
which principally interested him to the enclosure. It was a somewhat
bulky packet, and, from its size, at once promised very full and ample
details. As he opened it, however, he discovered it was in various
handwritings; but his surprise was further increased by the following
heading, in large letters, in the top of a page: "Sulphur Question," and
beginning, "My Lord, by a reference to my despatch, No. 478, you
will perceive that the difficulties which the Neapolitan
Government--" Harcourt turned over the page. It was all in the same
strain. Tariffs, treaties, dues, and duties occurred in every line.
Three other documents of like nature accompanied this; after which came
a very ill-written scrawl on coarse paper, entitled, "Hints as to diet
and daily exercise for his Excellency's use."

The honest Colonel, who was not the quickest of men, was some time
before he succeeded in unravelling to his satisfaction the mystery
before him, and recognizin