"Of course," he said, "I have long known that you ought to be in a better place than this; your payment is altogether inadequate; if it had depended upon _me_, I should long ago have increased it.

I truly rejoice that you have found a more fitting sphere for your remarkable abilities." No; I maintain that the world is always ready to congratulate you with sincerity, if you will only give it a chance.' 'Very gracious of you to give it the chance.

But, by-the-bye, how did it come about ?' 'Yes, I ought to tell you that.

Why, about a year ago, I wrote an answer to a communication signed by a Big Gun in one of the scientific papers.

It was a question in Probability--you wouldn't understand it.
My answer was printed, and the Big Gun wrote privately to me--a very flattering letter.