“Look here, prince,” said the general, with a cordial smile, “if you really are the sort of man you appear to be, it may be a source of great pleasure to us to make your better acquaintance; but, you see, I am a very busy man, and have to be perpetually sitting here and signing papers, or off to see his excellency, or to my department, or somewhere; so that though I should be glad to see more of people, nice people⁠—you see, I⁠—however, I am sure you are so well brought up that you will see at once, and⁠—but how old are you, prince?”

“Twenty-six.”

“No? I thought you very much younger.”