“Nothing of the kind,” said she, blushing slightly. “It was in perfect good faith. I wished you a more suitable companion. Indeed, after what I had heard from his Excellency about you, I was terrified at the thought of my own insufficiency.” “And pray what _did_ he say of me?” asked I, in a flutter of delight. “Are you very fond of flattery?” “Immensely!” “Is it not possible that praise of you could be so exaggerated as to make you feel ashamed?” “I should say, perfectly impossible; that is, to a mind regulated as mine, over-elation could never happen. Tell me, therefore, what he said?” “I can't remember one-half of it; he remarked how few men in the career--I conclude he meant diplomacy--could compare with you; that you had such just views about the state of Europe, such an accurate appreciation of publie men. I can't say how many opportunities you mustn't have had, and what valuable uses you have not put them to. In a word, I felt that I was about to travel with a great statesman and a consummate man of the world, and was-terrified accordingly.” “And now that the delusion is dispelled, how do you feel?” “But is it dispelled? Am I not shocked with my own temerity in daring to talk thus lightly with one so learned?” “If so,” said I, “you conceal your embarrassment wonderfully.” And then we both laughed; but I am not quite sure it was at the same joke. “Do you know where you are going?” said I, taking out a travelling-map as a means of diverting our conversation into some higher channel. “Not in the least” “Nor care?” “Nor care.” “Well, I must say, it is a most independent frame of mind. Perhaps you could extend this fine philosophy, and add, 'Nor with whom!'” I was not at all conscious of what an impertinence I had uttered till it was out; nor, indeed, even then, till I remarked that her cheek had become scarlet, and her eyes double as dark as their wont. “Yes,” said she, “there is one condition for which I should certainly stipulate,--not to travel with any one who could needlessly offend me.” I could have cried with shame; I could have held my hand in the flame of a fire to expiate my rude speech. And so I told her; while I assured her at the same time, with marvellous consistency, that it was not rude at all; that it was entirely misconception on her part; that _nous autres diplomates_--Heaven forgive me the lying assumption!--had a way of saying little smartnesses that don't mean much; that we often made our coin ring on the table, though it turned out bad money when it came to be looked at; that Talleyrand did it, and Walewsky did it, and I did it,--we all did it!