recording within himself the traits and characteristics of all around
him.

"A clever fellow, very clever fellow, Cineselli," said he, as he
continued to write. "His proposition is--certain commercial advantages,
and that we, on our side, leave him alone to deal his own way with his
own rabble. I see nothing against it, so long as they continue to be
rabble; but grubs grow into butterflies, and very vulgar populace have
now and then emerged into what are called liberal politicians."

"Only where you have the blessing of a free press," said the Princess,
in a tone of insolent mockery.

"Quite true, Princess; a free press is a tonic that with an increased
dose becomes a stimulant, and occasionally over-excites."

"It makes your people drunk now and then!" said she, angrily.

"They always sleep it off over-night," said he, softly. "They very
rarely pay even the penalty of the morning headache for the excess,
which is exactly why it will not answer in warmer latitudes."

"Ours is a cold one, and I 'm sure it would not suit us."

"I'm not so certain of that," said he, languidly. "I think it is
eminently calculated for a people who don't know how to read."

She would have smiled at the remark, if the sarcasm had not offended
her.

"Your Lordship will therefore see," muttered he, reading to himself as
he wrote, "that in yielding this point we are, while apparently making a
concession, in reality obtaining a very considerable advantage--"

"Rather an English habit, I suspect," said she, smiling.

"Picked up in the course of our Baltic trade, Princess. In sending us
your skins, you smuggled in some of your sentiments; and Russian tallow
has enlightened the nation in more ways than one!"

"You need it all, my dear chevalier," said she, with a saucy smile.
"Harzewitch told me that your diplomatic people were inferior to those
of the third-rate German States; that, in fact, they never had any
'information.'"

"I know what he calls 'information,' Princess; and his remark is just.
Our Government is shockingly mean, and never would keep up a good system
of spies."

"Spies! If you mean by an odious word to inculpate the honor of a high
calling--"

"Pray forgive my interruption, but I am speaking in all good faith. When
I said 'spy,' it was in the bankrupt misery of a man who had nothing
else to offer. I wanted to imply that pure but small stream which
conveys intelligence from a fountain to a river it was not meant t