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 "But, my dear Mr. Grey, you would not have used the word without having some meaning. Why did you think it impossible? impossible is such a peculiar word." And here the Marquess looked up with great earnestness to a portrait of himself, which hung over the fire-place. It was one of Sir Thomas's happiest efforts; but it was not the happiness of the likeness, nor the beauty of the painting, which now attracted his Lordship's attention; he thought only of the costume in which he appeared in that portrait—the court dress of a Cabinet Minister;—"Impossible, Mr. Grey, you must confess is a very peculiar word," reiterated his Lordship.

"I said impossible, my Lord, because I did conceive, that had your Lordship been of a disposition, to which such overtures might have been made with any probability of success, the Marquess of Carabas would have been in a situation which would have precluded the