He still a young man but no longer a young diplomat, as he had entered the service at the age of sixteen, had been in Paris and Copenhagen, and now held a rather important post in Vienna.

Both the foreign minister and our ambassador in Vienna knew him and valued him.

He was not one of those many diplomats who are esteemed because they have certain negative qualities, avoid doing certain things, and speak French.

He was one of those, who, liking work, knew how to do it, and despite his indolence would sometimes spend a whole night at his writing table.