'Never enter a port of one of my allies, Smeet,' he said, the very last time I took leave of him, 'without immediately hastening with your duty to the commandant of the place.

You never lose anything by being liberal in politeness; and England is too polished a country to be outdone in these things by even the Italians, the parents of modern civilization.'" "You are happy in having such a sovrano, and still more so in being allowed to approach his sacred person." "Oh! as to the last, the navy is his pet; he considers us captains in particular as his children.

'Never enter London, my dear Smeet,' he said to me, 'without coming to the palace, where you will always find a father'-- you know he has one son among us who was lately a captain, as well as myself." "San Stefano! and he the child of a great king! I did not know that, I confess, Signore." "Why, it is a law in England that the king shall give at least one son to the marine.

'Yes,' said his Majesty, 'always be prompt in calling on the superior authorities, and remember me benevolently and affectionately to them, one and all, even down to the subordinate magistrates, who live in their intimacy.'" Raoul delighted in playing the part he was now performing, but he was a little addicted to over-acting it.

Like all exceedingly bold and decided geniuses, he was constantly striding across that step which separates the sublime from the ridiculous, and consequently ran no small hazard in the way of discovery.