Years had, I think, put some water in the wine of his political ideas, but not enough to prevent differences between us on such subjects.

He was withal--there again I mean "is," for I am sure that years and the air of his beloved Pesth cannot have put any water in _that_ generous and genial wine--a fellow of infinite jest, and full of humour; in a word, one of the fullest and most delightful companions I have ever known.

He talked English with no further accent than served to add a raciness to the flavour of his conversation; and every morning of one fixed day in the week he used to come to Ricorboli for what he called a tobacco parliament.
I used frequently to spend the evening at his villa, where one met a somewhat extraordinary cosmopolitan gathering.

Generally we had some good music; for Madame Pulszky was--unhappily in her case the past tense is needed--a very perfect musician.

Among other people more or less off the world's beaten track, I used to meet there a very extraordinary Russian, who had accomplished the rare feat of escaping from Siberia.