"Even of some of those," returned Eve, smiling, "I suspect he thinks partially."
"Well, I am glad of that. Do you happen to know his opinion of the Emperor Nicholas?"
"Indeed. I do not remember to have heard him mention the Emperor's name; nor do I think he has ever seen him."
"That is extraordinary! Such a man should have seen every thing, and know every thing; but I'll engage, at the bottom, he does know all about him. If you happen to have any old English newspapers, as wrappers, or by any other accident, let me beg them of you. I care not how old they are. An English journal fifty years old, is more interesting than one of ours wet from the press."
Eve promised to send him a package, when they shook hands and parted. As she was crossing the hall, to rejoin the party, John Effingham stopped her.
"Has Howel made proposals?" the gentleman inquired, in an affected whisper.
"None, cousin Jack, beyond an offer to read the old English newspapers I can send him."
"Yes, yes, Tom Howel will swallow all the nonsense that is timbré à Londres."
"I confess a good deal of surprise at finding a respectable and intelligent man so weak-minded as to give credit to such authorities, or to form his serious opinions on information derived from such sources."
"You may be surprised, Eve, at hearing so frank avowals of the weakness; but, as for the weakness itself, you are now in a country for which England does all the thinking, except on subjects that touch the current interests of the day."