idered the handsomest man in the room. There was a noble and
independent air, and a free-born grace about him--so all the ladies
declared--which would have made him anywhere distinguished. His
features were dark, and of the purest classical model; his eyes were
large and sparkling, and a long silky black moustache shaded his lip.
His costume was simple and correct, from his well-fitting black coat to
his trousers, which showed off the shape of his handsome leg, and his
silk stockings, and low, well-polished shoes. The most severe critic
could not have found the slightest fault with him, except perhaps that
his coat shone too much, as if it was just out of the tailor's hands.

"Permit me to introduce to your ladyship, my friend, Prince Argiri
Caramitzo," said Captain Dunnup, advancing and presenting the stranger,
who bowed gracefully.

"And may I, Miss Garden, be allowed to introduce him to you?" he
continued. "Although a Greek, he speaks Italian like a native, in which
language I know that you, also, are a proficient."

Both ladies bowed their heads, and signified their pleasure in knowing
the Prince Caramitzo. He, in his turn, in very pure Italian, expressed
his still greater gratification at the honour he enjoyed.

While he was speaking, Dunnup caught Colonel Gauntlett's eye fixed on
him, and it occurred to him that he should introduce his friend. He
accordingly took him up, and introduced him in form.

"The prince is going eastward, colonel, and as you will probably meet
again in the classic land of Greece, if you do not rather journey
together, I feel that you should become acquainted."

As Colonel Gauntlett rather liked the look of the stranger, he
condescended to be civil to him; but as he did not speak a word of
Romaic, and as his Italian was very indifferent, and his French worse,
Argiri Caramitzo could scarcely understand what he said. He, however,
made a polite speech full of complimentary phrases in return, and then,
bowing, went back to talk to the ladies.

The handsome stranger judged that he should more speedily gain all the
information he required from the niece, and might afterwards, through
her, if he found it requisite, persuade the colonel to do what he
desired. He found on his return that Miss Garden had been led out to
dance by Captain Fleetwood, so he sat himself down to play the agreeable
to Lady Marmion, and to glean from her much which he wished to know
about the politics of Valet