wore her diamonds with an air which her peculiar favorites declared to
be majestic. You could not see her going along the boulevards in her
carriage without being aware that a special personage was passing. Upon
the whole, it may be said that she performed well her special role in
life. Of Sir Magnus it was hinted that he was afraid of his wife; but in
truth he desired it to be understood that all the disagreeable things
done at the Embassy were done by Lady Mountjoy, and not by him. He did
not refuse leave to the ladies to drop their cards at his hall-door. He
could ask a few men to his table without referring the matter to his
wife; but every one would understand that the asking of ladies was based
on a different footing.

He knew well that as a rule it was not fitting that he should ask a
married man without his wife; but there are occasions on which an excuse
can be given, and upon the whole the men liked it. He was a stout, tall,
portly old gentleman, sixty years of age, but looking somewhat older,
whom it was a difficulty to place on horseback, but who, when there,
looked remarkably well. He rarely rose to a trot during his two hours of
exercise, which to the two attaché's who were told off for the duty of
accompanying him was the hardest part of their allotted work. But other
gentlemen would lay themselves out to meet Sir Magnus and to ride with
him, and in this way he achieved that character for popularity which had
been a better aid to him in life than all the diplomatic skill which he
possessed.

"What do you think?" said he, walking off with Mrs. Mountjoy's letter
into his wife's room.

"I don't think anything, my dear."