low. I had trusted to finding my father at
home, but as he isn't, why----" he shrugged his shoulders and threw himself
back in his chair.

The Baron seemed struck with an idea which he hesitated to express.

"Shall we smoke?" his friend suggested.

"Vaiter!" cried the Baron, "bring here two best cigars and two coffee!"

"A liqueur, Baron?"

"Ach, yah. Vat for you?"

"A liqueur brandy suggests itself."

"Vaiter! and two brandy."

"And now," said the Baron, "I haf an idea, Bonker."

CHAPTER II.

The Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg, as I have said, had a warm heart. He
was, besides, alone in one hundred and twenty square miles of strangers
and foreigners when he had happened upon this congenial spirit. He began
in a tone of the most ingenuous friendliness--

"I haf no friends here. My introdogtions zey are gone. Bot I haf moch
money, and I vish a, vat you say?--showman, ha, ha, ha! You haf too leetle
money and no friends and you can show. You show and I will loan you vat
you vish. May I dare to suggest?"

"My dear Baron!"

"My goot Bonker! I am in airnest, I assure. Vy not? It is vun gentleman
and anozzer."

"You are far too kind."

"It is to myself I am kind, zen. I vant a guide, a frient. It is a loan.
Do not scruple. Ven your fader goms you can pay if you please. It is
nozing to me."

"Well, my dear Baron," said Mr Bunker, like a man persuaded against his
will, "what can I say? I confess I might find a little difficulty in
replenishing my purse without resorting to disagreeable means, and if you
really wish my society, why----"

"Zen it is a bairgain?" cried the Baron.

"If you insist----"

"I insist. Vaiter! Alzo two ozzer liqueur. Ve most drink to ze bairgain,
Bonker."

They pledged each other cordially, and talked from that moment like old
friends. The Baron was thoroughly pleased with himself, and Mr Bunker
seemed no less gratified at his own good fortune. Half an hour went
quickly by, and then the Baron exclaimed, "Let us do zomzing to-night,
Bonker. I burn for to begin zis show of London."

"What would you care to do, Baron? It is rather late, I am afraid, to
think of a theatre. What do you say to a music-hall?"

"Music-hall? I haf seen zem at home. Damned amusing, das ist ze
expression, yes?"

"It is a perfect description."

"Bot," continued the Baron, solemnly, "I must not begin vid ze vickedest."

"And yet," replied his friend, persuasively,