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 BETWEEN THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN. 223 of him as void of all idea of truth. He under- chap. stood truth, and in conversation he habitually __J^ preferred it to falsehood; but his truthfulness (though not perhaps contrived for such an end) sometimes became a means of deception; because, after generating confidence, it would suddenly break down under the pressure of a strong motive. He could maintain friendly relations with a man, and speak frankly and truthfully to him for seven years, and then suddenly deceive him. Of course men finding themselves ensnared by what had appeared to be honesty in his character, were naturally inclined to believe that every semblance of a good quality was a mask ; but it is more con- sistent with the principles of human nature to believe that a truthfulness continuing for seven years was a genuine remnant of virtue, than that it was a mere preparation for falsehood. His doubting and undecided nature was a help to con- cealment; for men got so wearied by following the oscillations of his mind that their suspicions in time went to rest ; and then, perhaps, when he saw that they were quite tired of predicting that he would do a thing, he gently stole out and did it. He had boldness of the kind which is produced by reflection rather than that which is the result of temperament. In order to cope with the ex- traordinary perils into which he now and then thrust himself, and to cope with them decorously, there, was— panted a fiery quality which nature had-refused- to the great bulk of mankind as well as to him. But it was onlv in emergencies of a