Produced by David Widger PAUL GOSSLETT'S CONFESSIONS IN LOVE, LAW, AND THE CIVIL SERVICE By Charles James Lever Boston: Little, Brown, And Company. 1906. MY FIRST MISSION UNDER F. O. I was walking very sadly across the Green Park one day, my hat pressed over my eyes, not looking to right or left, but sauntering slowly along, depressed and heavy-hearted, when I felt a friendly arm slip softly within my own, while a friendly voice said,--“I think I have got something to suit you, for a few months at least. Don't you know Italian?” “In a fashion, I may say I do. I can read the small poets, and chat a little. I'll not say much more about my knowledge.” “Quite enough for what I mean. Now tell me another thing. You 're not a very timid fellow, I know. Have you any objection to going amongst the brigands in Calabria,--on a friendly mission, of course,--where it will be their interest to treat you well?” “Explain yourself a little more freely. What is it I should have to do?” “Here's the whole affair; the son of a wealthy baronet, a Wiltshire M.P., has been captured and carried off by these rascals. They demand a heavy sum for his ransom, and give a very short time for the payment. Sir Joseph, the youth's father, is very ill, and in such a condition as would make any appeal to him highly dangerous; the doctors declare, in fact, it would be fatal; and Lady Mary S. has come up to town, in a state bordering on distraction, to consult Lord Scatterdale, the Foreign Secretary, who is a personal friend of her husband. The result is that his Lordship lias decided to pay the money at once; and the only question is now to find the man to take it out, and treat with these scoundrels.” “That ought not to be a very difficult matter, one would say; there are scores of fellows with pluck for such a mission.”