Thomas's happiest efforts; but it was not the happiness of the likeness,
or the beauty of the painting, which now attracted his Lordship's
attention; he thought only of the costume in which he appeared in that
portrait: the court dress of a Cabinet Minister. "Impossible, Mr. Grey,
you must confess, is a very peculiar word," reiterated his Lordship.

"I said impossible, my Lord, because I did conceive, that had your
Lordship been of a disposition to which such overtures might have been
made with any probability of success, the Marquess of Carabas would have
been in a situation which would have precluded the possibility of those
overtures being made at all."

"Hah!" and the Marquess nearly started from his seat.

"Yes, my Lord, I am a young, an inexperienced young man, ignorant of the
world's ways; doubtless I was wrong, but I have much to learn," and his
voice faltered; "but I did conceive, that having power at his command,
the Marquess of Carabas did not exercise it, merely because he despised
it: but what should I know of such matters, my Lord?"

"Is power a thing so easily to be despised, young man?" asked the
Marquess. His eye rested on a vote of thanks from the "Merchants and
Bankers of London to the Right Honourable Sydney Lorraine, President,
&c., &c., &c.," which, splendidly emblazoned, and gilt, and framed, and
glazed, was suspended opposite the President's portrait.

"Oh, no! my Lord, you mistake me," eagerly burst forth Vivian. "I am no
cold-blooded philosopher that would despise that, for which, in my
opinion, men, real men, should alone exist. Power! Oh! what sleepless
nights, what days of hot anxiety! what exertions of mind and body! what