Croft returned as triumphantly as the excellent Doctor had done; averring that there was no doubt as to the immediate conclusion of a treaty.

His grounds of belief were very similar to those upon which Rogers had founded his faith.

"Tis a weak old man of seventy," said Parma, "with very little sagacity.

I am inclined to think that his colleagues are taking him in, that they may the better deceive us.

I will see that they do nothing of the kind." But the movement was purely one of the comptroller's own inspiration; for Sir James had a singular facility for getting himself into trouble, and for making confusion.