Those, I suppose, were the charms which had undone me, first as well as last; but the memory of them was no solace in the train.

Nor was I tempted to dream again of ultimate reward.

I could see now no further than my immediate part, and a more distasteful mixture of the mean and of the ludicrous I hope never to rehearse again.
One mitigation I might have set against the rest.

Dining at the Rag the night before I left, I met a man who knew a man then staying at the Riffel Alp.

My man was a sapper with whom I had had a very slight acquaintance out in India, but he happened to be one of those good-natured creatures who never hesitate to bestir themselves or their friends to oblige a mere acquaintance: he asked if I had secured rooms, and on learning that I had not, insisted on telegraphing to his friend to do his best for me.