He had that place in the Government my father got him.
He was attache in Paris; subsequently in Vienna; he has had ever so many chances, and drops through all.

One can't help loving Val; he is an attractive, sweet-tempered, good-natured fellow; but he was certainly born under an unlucky star.

Elster's folly!" "Val will drop through more chances yet," remarked Lady Maude.

"I pity Miss Ashton, if she means to wait for him." "Means to! She loves him passionately--devotedly.

She would wait for him all her life, and think it happiness only to see him once in a way." "As an astronomer looks at a star through a telescope," laughed Maude; "and Val is not worth the devotion." "Val is not a bad fellow in the main; quite the contrary, Maude.