“And he wore his mask?”
“He wore his mask.”
“And is he tall or fat? well formed or bandy?”
“I did not ask any of those questions; for as I saw him with my own eyes at Stockholm—masked, it is true—I know him to be tall, well made, and as lithe as a deer.”
“Probably he may be some ex-rope-dancer,” suggested Cristiano, who appeared to take no more interest in the conversation than politeness required.
“Oh no!” said Margaret; “he has received a capital education. Everybody is struck by the style and wit of his comedies.”
“But how do you know that they are his own?”
“People familiar with all the ancient and modern literatures, assert that nothing in them is stolen; and these little comedies of his—sometimes sentimental, it is said, also—have been a real literary event at Stockholm.”
“Will he exhibit to-morrow, do you think?” was asked on every side.
“It is to be presumed,” replied the major, “but if these young ladies are desirous to know, I shall be very happy to undertake to find him out and inquire.”