ter visiting at the regulation country houses. Are you prepared to
live that sort of life--or are you prepared to bear the responsibility
of taking her out of it? Are you prepared to take the butterfly to live
in the camp?'

'She isn't a butterfly----'

'No, no; never mind my bad metaphor. But she has been brought up in a
kind of life which is second nature to her. Are you prepared to live
that life with her? Are you sure--are you quite, quite sure--that she
would be willing, after the first romantic outburst, to put up with a
totally different life for the sake of you?'

'Excellency,' Hamilton said, smiling somewhat sadly, 'you certainly do
your best to take the conceit out of a young man.'

'My boy, I don't think you have any self-conceit, but you may have a
good deal of self-forgetfulness. Now I want you to call a halt and
remember yourself. In this business of yours--supposing it comes to what
you would consider at the moment a success----'

'At the moment?' Hamilton pleaded, in pained remonstrance.

'At the moment--yes. Supposing the thing ends successfully for you, one
plan of life or other must necessarily be sacrificed--yours or hers.
Which is it going to be? Don't make too much of her present enthusiasm.
Which is it going to be?'

'I don't believe there will be any sacrifice needed,' Hamilton said, in
an impassioned tone. 'I told you she loves Gloria as well as you or I
could do.'

The Dictator shook his head and smiled pityingly.

'But if there is to be any sacrifice of any life,' Hamilton said, driven
on perhaps by his chief's pitying smile, 'it shan't be hers. No, if she
will have me after we have got back to Gloria, I'll live with her in
London every season and ride with her in the Row every morning and
afternoon, and take her, by Jove! to all the dinners and balls she cares
about, and she shall have her heart's desire, whatever it be.'

The Dictator's face was crossed by some shadows. Pity was there, and
sympathy was there--and a certain melancholy pleasure, and, it may be, a
certain disappointment. He pulled himself together very quickly, and was
cool, genial, and composed, according to his usual way.

'All right, my boy,' he said, 'this is genuine love at all events,
however it may turn out. You have answered my question fairly and fully.
I see now that you do know what you want. That is one great point,
anyhow. I will do my very best to get for you what you want. If it only
rested with me,