He had been brought at various times during his long diplomatic career into contact with most of the interesting people in the world.

He knew well how to separate the grain from the chaff according to the tastes of his listener.

The pathos of his present position appealed to her irresistibly.

The possibilities of his life had been so great, fortune had treated him always so strangely.

The greatest of his schemes had come so near to success, the luck had turned against him only at the very moment of fruition.