A MESSAGE TO MR HELDER
Cornelius Helder was a contradiction, and Gold did not like contradictions. "A man is either one thing or the other," was a favourite saying of his; "my experience of life is that he is generally the other."
By Gold's exact measure it was impossible to reconcile the bon garçon, a man full of the joy of life, a lover of good living, good stories and luxurious tastes, with the revolutionary preaching red riot and rebellion to those effete and degenerate monarchies which sway Europe.
"It may be affectation, your Excellency," said Gold; "a pose, some men are fond of poses."
He was in the American Ambassador's private study.
"I should hardly describe Mr Helder as young," said his Excellency dryly; "he is passing into the vinegar stage of his salad days."
Gold smil
