faculties desert me before the marble and gold luxury of a modern
palace, and its gorgeous splendour has no charm for me. The interest I
felt was due to the man himself, and, most of all, to the connection
existing between him and my own home. How came this American Croesus to
be acquainted with the nomenclature, customs, and topography of my own
country and language? How came the latter upon the lips of his
five-year-old boy? In my childhood I had known a five-year-old boy, the
son of a count, who could speak only Latin, and not a word except Latin.
But, then, Latin is taught throughout the world, and no education is
considered as finished without a more or less perfect knowledge of
Latin. But where in a foreign country is the professor who teaches the
Ugro-Finnish tongue, even if there were some whimsical parent who wished
that his son should learn to speak it?

During the drive Mr. Dumany acquainted me with some particulars
regarding the customs of his house. He told me that the hour for
breakfast was nine, and that for lunch one o'clock. Dinner was
invariably served at six, and I was entirely at liberty to put in my
appearance or stay away. They would not wait for me, but my place at the
table would be kept reserved; and if I was late, I should be served
afresh. The cook should be entirely at my disposal. If the excitement
and fatigue of the journey should make me wish for a day's rest, I was
free to retire to my rooms at once, and should not be disturbed by
anybody.

In answer to all this I said that I had no habits whatever; that I was
able to eat, drink, and sleep at will; was never fatigued, and would
with pleasure put in my appearance at his breakfast-table that very
morning.