I disguised to myself the impropriety of my conduct, by recollecting the benefits which it might produce.

Pleyel's proposal was unwise, yet it was enforced with plausible arguments and indefatigable zeal.

Your brother might be puzzled and wearied, but could not be convinced.

I conceived that to terminate the controversy in favor of the latter was conferring a benefit on all parties.

For this end I profited by an opening in the conversation, and assured them of Catharine's irreconcilable aversion to the scheme, and of the death of the Saxon baroness.