EntranceintotheHouseofLordsgivesamansomethingtodo，withnewfriendsandpleasingrelations。Astothename，Iwouldgladlyhaveretainedmyown，buthadnochoice;infact，whenLordJohnRussellwasmadeanearl，hisinsistingonretaininghisnamewasnotespeciallyliked。VariousplacesontheRussellestatesweresubmittedtomeformychoice，andItookAmpthill。’’
Alas！hisplanscametonothing。HediedathispostbeforehisretirementtoEngland。
AmongthosethenconnectedwiththeBritishEmbassyatBerlin，oneofthemostinterestingwasColonel（nowGeneral）LordMethuen，who，afewyearssince，tooksohonorableapartintheSouthAfricanWar。Hewasatthattimeatall，awkwardman，kindly，genial，whoalwaysremindedmeofThackeray’s``MajorSugarplums。’’
Hehadrecentlylosthiswife，andwasevidentlyindeepsorrow。Onemorningtherecameacuriousbitofnewsregardinghim。Afewdaysbefore，walkinginsomeremotepartoftheThiergarten，hesawaworking—manthrowhimselfintotheriver，andinstantlyjumpedintotheicystreamafterhim，grappledhim，pulledhimout，laidhimonthebank，andrapidlywalkedoff。Whennewsofitgotout，hewastaxedwithitbyvariousmembersofthediplomaticcorps;butheawkwardlyandblushinglypooh—poohedthewholematter。
Oneevening，notlongafterward，Iwitnessedaverypleasantsceneconnectedwiththisrescue。AswewereallassembledatsomeminorfestivityintheprivatepalaceontheLinden，theoldEmperorsentforthecolonel，andonhiscomingup，hisMajestytookfromhisowncoatamedalofhonorforlife—savingandattachedittothebreastofMethuen，whoreceiveditinaveryawkwardyetmanlyfashion。