But he came to see me a day or two ago, full of Barbara's Building, and departed in high feather with a cheque for a thousand pounds in his pocket.
I may remark here on the peculiar difficulty there is in playing Monte Cristo with anything like picturesque grace.

Any dull dog that owns a pen and a banking-account can write out cheques for charitable institutions.

But to accomplish anything personal, imaginative, adventurous, anything with a touch of distinction, is a less easy matter.

You wake up in the morning with the altruistic yearnings of a St.Francois de Sales, and yet somehow you go to bed in the evening with the craving unsatisfied.

You have really had so few opportunities; and when an occasion does arise it is hedged around with such difficulties as to baffle all but the most persistent.