The conventional dress-suit is not very becoming, yet there are a few men here and there who look well in it, and who, in spite of similarity in attire, will never be mistaken for waiters.

Others there are who, passable in appearance when clad in their ordinary garments, reach the very acme of plebeianism when they clothe themselves in the unaccommodating evening-dress.

Fortunately, I happened to be one of the former class--the sober black, the broad white display of starched shirt-front and neat tie became me, almost too well I thought.

It would have been better for my purposes if I could have feigned an aspect of greater age and weightier gravity.

I had scarcely finished my toilet when the rumbling of wheels in the court-yard outside made the hot blood rush to my face, and my heart beat with feverish excitement.