E. L. White

“ The ambassador beamed, chuckled, and stood up. The greenhorn, deferentially rising as his elder rose, felt his hand clasped in two warm, friendly ones.
“She shall have her card, too,” said the kindly old man. “I congratulate you, and I congratulate her also. Since the world began a lover or a husband has been the ordained specialty for a woman. It is old-fashioned but natural; and not only human but divine. The right man is the only proper specialty for the right kind of woman.” ”

“ The ambassador regarded the greenhorn. From his awkward appearance no one could have expected him to talk so well. Perhaps here was, in spite of his exterior, a young man worth advising.
“Very good,” said the ambassador, “very good indeed. But you must remember that to attain that ideal you must make yourself an all-round musician. You must not put too much time or energy upon any one phase of your art. You must study the history of music, the development of its methods. You must attain some measure of skill upon every known instrument. ”

“ After a while the secretary realized that he was beaten. Entering the ambassador’s private room, he said:
“I fancy, sir, you would best have it over at once. He is worse than a horse leech.”
“Show him in,” said the ambassador wearily.
The secretary returned to the waiting room. The ambassador had reached the legation and was now at leisure. Would Mr. Medick walk in?
Where he was led the greenhorn followed, his heart thumping. The ambassador saw in the young man’s face something the sleek, glib secretary had wholly missed. ”