"Sometimes, knowing that I shall never be rich, I have desired a
title," remarked Fitzgerald humorously.

"And what would you do with it?" curiously.

"Oh, I'd use it against porters, and waiters, and officials. There's
nothing like it. I have observed a good deal. It has a magic sound,
like Orpheus' lyre; the stiffest back becomes supine at the first
twinkle of it."

"I should like to travel with you, Mr. Fitzgerald," said Breitmann
musingly. "You would be good company. Some day, perhaps, I'll try
your prescription; but I'm only a poor devil of a homeless, landless
baron."

Fitzgerald sat up. "You surprise me."

"Yes. However, neither my father nor my grandfather used it, and as
the pitiful few acres which went with it is a sterile Bavarian
hillside, I have never used it, either. Besides, neither the _Peerage_
nor the _Almanac de Gotha_ make mention of it; but still the patent of
nobility was legal, and I could use it despite the negligence of those
two authorities."

"You could use it in America. There are not many 'Burke's' there."

"It amuses me to think that I should confide this secret to you. The
wine is good, and perhaps--perhaps I was hungry. Accept what I have
told you as a jest."

They both became untalkative as the coffee came. Fitzgerald was musing
over the impulse which had seized him in asking Breitmann to share his
dinner. He was genuinely pleased that he had done so, however; but it
forced itself upon him that sometime or other these impulses would land
him in difficulties. On his part the recipient of this particular
impulse was also meditating; Napoleon had been utterly forgotten,
verbally at least. Well, perhaps they had threshed out that
interesting topic during the afternoon. Finally he laid down the end
of his cigarette.

"I have to thank you very much for a pleasant evening, Mr. Fitzgerald."

"Glad I ran into you. It has done me no end of good. I leave for the
East to-morrow. Is there any possibility of seeing you in the Balkans
this fall?"

"No. I am going to try my luck in America again."

"My club address you will find on my card. You must go? It's only the
shank of the evening."

"I have a little work to do. Some day I hope I may be able to set as
good a dinner before you."

"Better have a cigar."

"No, thank you."

And Fitzgerald liked him none the less for his firmness. So he went as
far as the entrance with him.

"Don't bother about calling