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THE EUROPEANS.
[CH.
the world with a big bunch of these ineffectual instruments at his girdle. His nephew, on the other hand, with a single turn of the wrist, opened any door as adroitly as a housethief. He felt obliged to keep up the convention that an uncle is always wiser than a nephew, even if he could keep it up no otherwise than by listening in serious silence to Felix's quick, light, constant discourse. But there came a day when he lapsed from consistency and almost asked his nephew's advice.
"Have you ever entertained the idea of settling in the United States?" he asked one morning, while Felix brilliantly plied his brush.
"My dear uncle," said Felix, "excuse me
