ight, an aquiline nose, and piercing
black eyes under heavy white eyebrows, a frosty pink in his wrinkled
cheeks, and a flowing silver beard with a touch of gold still lingering
under the lower lip: he seemed, as he stood there, a worthy
representative of the greatest and richest city in the world.

Horace approached the steps with an unpleasant sensation of weakness at
the knees, and no sort of idea what he was expected to do or say when he
arrived.

And, in his perplexity, he turned for support and guidance to his
self-constituted mentor--only to discover that the Jinnee, whose
short-sightedness and ignorance had planted him in this present false
position, had mysteriously and perfidiously disappeared, and left him to
grapple with the situation single-handed.

CHAPTER XVI

A KILLING FROST

Fortunately for Ventimore, the momentary dismay he had felt on
finding himself deserted by his unfathomable Jinnee at the very
outset of the ceremony passed unnoticed, as the Prime Warden of the
Candlestick-makers' Company immediately came to his rescue by briefly
introducing him to the Lord Mayor, who, with dignified courtesy, had
descended to the lowest step of the dais to receive him.

"Mr. Ventimore," said the Chief Magistrate, cordially, as he pressed
Horace's hand, "you must allow me to say that I consider this one of the
greatest privileges--if not _the_ greatest privilege--that have fallen
to my lot during a term of office in which I have had the honour of
welcoming more than the usual number of illustrious visitors."

"My Lord Mayor," said Horace, with absolute sincerity, "you really
overwhelm me. I--I only wish I could feel that I had done anything to
deserve this--this magnificent compliment!"

"Ah!" replied the Lord Mayor, in a paternally rallying tone. "Modest, my
dear sir, I perceive. Like all truly great men! A most admirable trait!
Permit me to present you to the Sheriffs."

The Sheriffs appeared highly delighted. Horace shook hands with both of
them; indeed, in the flurry of the moment he very nearly offered to do
so with the Sword and Mace bearers as well, but their hands were, as it
happened, otherwise engaged.

"The actual presentation," said the Lord Mayor, "takes place in the
Great Hall, as you are doubtless aware."

"I--I have been given to understand so," said Horace, with a sinking
heart--for he had begun to hope that the worst was over.

"But before we adjourn," said his host, "you wi