sful
in one of less distinction than himself. He possessed eminently, what a
great orator once panegyrized as a high conversational element, "great
variety," and could without abruptness pass from subject to subject,
with always what showed he had bestowed thought upon the theme before
him. Great people have few more enviable privileges than that they
choose their own topics for conversation. Nothing disagreeable, nothing
wearisome, nothing inopportune, can be intruded upon them. When they
have no longer anything worth saying, they can change the subject or the
company.

His Highness talked with Madame de Sabloukoff on questions of state
as he might have talked with a Metternich; he even invited from her
expressions of opinion that were almost counsels, sentiments that
might pass for warnings. He ranged over the news of the day, relating
occasionally some little anecdote, every actor in which was a celebrity;
or now and then communicating some piece of valueless secrecy, told with
all the mystery of a "great fact;" and then he discussed with Upton the
condition of England, and deplored, as all Continental rulers do,
the impending downfall of that kingdom, from the growing force of our
restless and daring democracy. He regretted much that Sir Horace was not
still in office, but consoled himself by reflecting that the pleasure he
enjoyed in his society had been in that case denied him. In fact, what
with insinuated flatteries, little signs of confidence, and a most
marked tone of cordiality, purposely meant to strike beholders, the
Prince conducted the conversation right royally, and played "Highness"
to perfection.

And these two crafty, keen-sighted people, did they not smile at the
performance, and did they not, as they drove home at night, amuse
themselves as they recounted the little traits of the great man's
dupery? Not a bit of it. They were charmed with his gracious manner, and
actually enchanted with his agreeability. Strong in their self-esteem,
they could not be brought to suspect that any artifice could be
practised on _them_, or that the mere trickery and tinsel of high
station could be imposed on them as true value. Nay, they even went
further, and discovered that his Highness was really a very remarkable
man, and one who received far less than the estimation due to him. His
flightiness became versatility; his eccentricity was all originalty; and
ere they reached the hotel, they had endowed him with almost