120 A BALL EOOxAf, AND A BELLE. 



whether to win by sap, or conquer by assault, and who 

 a better judge?" 



Two or three hours later the friends met again, and 

 somewhat to the surprise, but yet more to the pleasure 

 of Matuschevitz, Fairfax made his appearance per- 

 fectly well dressed, but without any thing of that over 

 elaborate or dressy air Vvdiich he sometimes adopted 

 much to his detriment, as it must necessarily be to 

 that of all dark-haired and dark-complexioned men. 

 His linen was exquisite, and his white waistcoat sheeny 

 as if it had been varnished, with large oriental pearls, 

 the only valuable things he wore; as his well-starched 

 waistcoat, and well-polished shoes were the only bright 

 things. For the rest his coat did not look the least 

 as if it had been stitched upon his back, and his 

 trowsers did look as if they had been made to walk, 

 to dance, or even to sit down in. Certainly he was a 

 very well made, a very handsome, and a very well, 

 though not extensively, got up man ; and Matusche- 

 vitz thought so as he surveyed him, with a slight nod 

 of approbation. But the next minute he nodded more 

 drolly and said, with an arch smile : 



'' What is this, colonel ? I don't see a vast diamond 

 breastpin, worth a cargo of tobacco, in your shirt bo- 

 som ; and I don't smell patchouli on your handker- 

 chief." 



^' No, 3fo7isieur V Ambassadeur, grace au bon 

 Dieu ! You don't see a New York merchant-prince 

 snob, or a young New York japonicadom snob, before 

 you ; but simply a Virginian gentleman." 



" Of the first families !" said the Russian with a 

 low inclination, as the French novelists call it, when 

 they want to be excruciating. " Now let's go to din- 

 ner." And they went to dinner, and a mighty plea- 

 sant dinner it was too, as who ever heard of Beaufort 

 giving a dinner which was not pleasant. Every thing 

 was exquisite, nothing /we from the champagne to the 



