OCTOBER 267 



prise. As he was leading the way through 

 a devious passage, 



"Is that Peter?" asked Bismarck, in 

 a whisper. 



" Aye : it's himsel', Sir," John answered, 

 resignedly, clearly meaning, "A wilful 

 man must have his way " and that the 

 way was not likely to be smooth. 



The apartment in which we soon 

 found ourselves was very unlike what 

 could have been expected. It was lofty 

 and otherwise spacious. A pile of coal 

 and logs was burning brightly on an 

 ungrated hearth, on either side of which, 

 built into the receding wall, was a 

 cushioned seat. Easy-chairs were ranged 

 about the fire-place. A bookcase, packed, 

 covered the whole of the wall on the right 

 of the ingle-neuk ; on the other side was 

 a huge cupboard with a divided door, 

 whence Peter had just brought a decanter 

 filled with a purple liquor and four small 

 tumblers, which he had placed on a little 

 round table standing between the easy- 

 chairs and the fire. 



