wn mind, even to the use of certain expressions
he was to employ,--he arrived at the palace of the Embassy, where he
desired to halt to take up his letters and make a few preparations
before his departure. His Maestro di Casa, Signor Franchetti, was in
waiting for his arrival, and respectfully assured him "that all was in
readiness, and that his Excellency would be perfectly satisfied. We had,
it is true," continued he, "a difficulty about the fish, but I sent off
an express to Baia, and we have secured a sturgeon."

"What are you raving about, caro Pipo?" said the Minister; "what is all
this long story of Baia and the fish?"

"Has your Excellency forgotten that we have a grand dinner to-day, at
eight o'clock; that the Prince Maximilian of Bavaria and all the foreign
ambassadors are invited?"

"Is this Saturday, Pipo?" said Sir Horace, blandly.

"Yes, your Excellency."

"Send Mr. Brockett to me," said Sir Horace, as he slowly mounted the
stairs to his own apartment.

Sir Horace was stretched on a sofa, in all the easy luxury of
magnificent dressing-gown and slippers, when Mr. Brockett entered; and
without any preliminary of greeting he said, with a quiet laugh, "You
have let me forget all about the dinner to-day, Brockett!"

"I thought you knew it; you took great trouble about the persons to
be asked, and you canvassed whether the Duc de Borodino, being only a
Charge d'Affaires--"

"There, there; don't you see the--the inappropriateness of what you are
doing? Even in England a man is not asked to criminate himself. How many
are coming?"

"Nineteen; the 'Nonce' is ill, and has sent an apology."

"Then the party can be eighteen, Brockett; you must tell them that I am
ill,--too ill to come to dinner. I know the Prince Max very well,--he
'll not take it badly; and as to Cineselli, we shall see what humor he
is in!"

"But they 'll know that you arrived here this afternoon; they 'll
naturally suppose--"

"They 'll naturally suppose--if people ever do anything so intensely
stupid as naturally to suppose anything--that I am the best judge of my
own health; and so, Mr. Brockett, you may as well con over the terms by
which you may best acquaint the company with the reasons for my absence;
and if the Prince proposes a visit to me in the evening, let him come;
he 'll find me here in my own room. Would you do me the kindness to let
Antinori fetch his cupping-glasses, and tell Franchetti also that I 'll
take my chicke