He took a kindly leave of M.Nioche, having assured him that, so far as he was concerned, the blue-cloaked Madonna herself might have been present at his interview with Mademoiselle Noemie; and left the old man nursing his breast-pocket, in an ecstasy which the acutest misfortune might have been defied to dissipate.

Newman then started on his travels, with all his usual appearance of slow-strolling leisure, and all his essential directness and intensity of aim.

No man seemed less in a hurry, and yet no man achieved more in brief periods.

He had certain practical instincts which served him excellently in his trade of tourist.

He found his way in foreign cities by divination, his memory was excellent when once his attention had been at all cordially given, and he emerged from dialogues in foreign tongues, of which he had, formally, not understood a word, in full possession of the particular fact he had desired to ascertain.