with Sampson Levi, and so
putting an end to the possibility of my marriage with Anna?'

Aribert nodded.

'You are a good friend to me, Aribert. You mean well. But you are
mistaken.

You have been worrying about nothing.'

'Have you forgotten about Reginald Dimmock?'

'I remember you said that he had died.'

'I said nothing of the sort. I said that he had been assassinated. That
was part of it, my poor Eugen.'

'Pooh!' said Eugen. 'I don't believe he was assassinated. And as for
Sampson Levi, I will bet you a thousand marks that he and I come to
terms this morning, and that the million is in my hands before I leave
London.' Aribert shook his head.

'You seem to be pretty sure of Mr Levi's character. Have you had much to
do with him before?'

'Well,' Eugen hesitated a second, 'a little. What young man in my
position hasn't had something to do with Mr Sampson Levi at one time or
another?'

'I haven't,' said Aribert.

'You! You are a fossil.' He rang a silver bell. 'Hans! I will receive Mr
Sampson Levi.'

Whereupon Aribert discreetly departed, and Prince Eugen sat down in
the great velvet chair, and began to look at the papers which Hans had
previously placed upon the table.

'Good morning, your Royal Highness,' said Sampson Levi, bowing as he
entered. 'I trust your Royal Highness is well.'

'Moderately, thanks,' returned the Prince.

In spite of the fact that he had had as much to do with people of Royal
blood as any plain man in Europe, Sampson Levi had never yet learned
how to be at ease with these exalted individuals during the first few
minutes of an interview. Afterwards, he resumed command of himself and
his faculties, but at the beginning he was invariably flustered, scarlet
of face, and inclined to perspiration.

'We will proceed to business at once,' said Prince Eugen. 'Will you take
a seat, Mr Levi?'

'I thank your Royal Highness.'

'Now as to that loan which we had already practically arranged--a
million, I think it was,' said the Prince airily.

'A million,' Levi acquiesced, toying with his enormous watch chain.

'Everything is now in order. Here are the papers and I should like to
finish the matter up at once.'

'Exactly, your Highness, but--'

'But what? You months ago expressed the warmest satisfaction at the
security, though I am quite prepared to admit that the security, is of
rather an unusual nature. You also agreed to the rate of interest. It is
not everyone, Mr Levi, who