That you should have lit on me at the critical instant is one of those miracles which combine to produce overwhelming testimony--ay, Richie! without a doubt there is a hand directing our destiny.' His speaking in such a strain, out of pure kindness to Temple, huskily, with his painful attempt to talk like himself, revived his image as the father of my heart and dreams, and stirred my torpid affection, though it was still torpid enough, as may be imagined, when I state that I remained plunged in contemplation of his stocking of red silk emerging from the full bronzed breech, considering whether his comparison of himself to a shell-fish might not be a really just one.

We neither of us regained our true natures until he was free of every vestige of the garb of Prince Albrecht Wohlgemuth.

Attendants were awaiting him at the garden-gate of a beautiful villa partly girdled by rising fir-woods on its footing of bright green meadow.

They led him away, and us to bath-rooms..