BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 235
him," Walter said to his wife cm the third night of their stay in Paris (it was on the fourth that they continued their journey towards Venice), " and the more one sees of Forsyth, the more one must like him."
" It is quite wonderful," said Mrs. Milbanke, " quite ; I am deceived in him ; I would have expected him to be a little exacting in regard to the programme of the day, and a young man of moods and whims ; but he is perfectly amiable."
" I am glad you agree with me, my dear," said Walter ; " I never came across a pleasanter fellow, nor one better informed, and, by Jove, if he does not know a thing, he has the knack of seeming to, and of extracting the neces- sary knowledge from some one else, or from a book, or in some way or other just at the right moment ; a thoroughly good-natured, agreeable fellow ; Dolly may indeed be congratulated."
" I think so," said Jenny. " I hope so, and I believe so ; though Sam Selwyn with a big fortune would have been hardly less desirable. There is something I like about Sam ; he is so transparent, so good-natured, and so de- termined to be rich."
" Have you not liked him a trifle more since he made those two large sums of money ? Eh, now, my darling, confess ! "
" I have respected him more, Walter, that's all ; and don't you think there was something very considerate and thoughtful in his not proposing to Dolly because he did not believe he had money enough, and saying he would have proposed if it had not for other reasons been too late the moment he was sure of his good fortune."
" Oh, I like Sam, and we must not lose him as a friend because we cannot have him as a brother-in law."
" Just so, dear," said Jenny ; and before Walter had finished his next sentence, Mrs. Milbanke was sleeping the
