Let them go their own way." "You are an old friend of the Countess's, are you not ?" asked the American.

"Yes--very well, would you like to see her married to Claudius ?" "Upon my word," said the Duke, "I cannot see that I have anything to say about it.

But since you ask me, I see no possible objection.

He is a gentleman--has money, heaps of it--if she likes him, let her marry him if she pleases.

It is very proper that she should marry again; she has no children, and the Russian estates are gone to the next heir.