if he
could, the motive of that undoubtedly sagacious animal's taking such a
definite attitude.

'Well, To-to does not like the idea of anyone taking Helena's place
except himself. Now, you will see; when we all settle down, and no one
presumes to try for that chair, To-to will quietly drop out of it and
allow the remainder of the performance to go undisturbed. He doesn't
want to set up any claim to sit on the chair himself; all he wants is to
assert and to protect the right of Helena to have that chair at any
moment when she may choose to join us at luncheon.'

The rest of the party soon came in from various rooms and consultations.
Soame Rivers was the first.

'Miss Langley not coming?' he said, with a glance at To-to.

'No,' Sir Rupert answered. 'She is a little out of sorts to-day--nothing
much--but she won't come down just yet.'

'So To-to keeps her seat reserved, I see.'

The Dictator felt in his heart as if he and To-to were born to be
friends.

The other guests were Lord Courtreeve and Sir Lionel Rainey, the famous
Englishman, who had settled himself down at the Court of the King of
Siam, and taken in hand the railway and general engineering and military
and financial arrangements of that monarch; and, having been somewhat
hurt in an expedition against the Black Flags, was now at home, partly
for rest and recovery, and partly in order to have an opportunity of
enlightening his Majesty of Siam, who had a very inquiring mind, on the
immediate condition of politics and house-building in England. Sir
Lionel said that, above all things, the King of Siam would be interested
in learning something about Ericson and the condition of Gloria, for the
King of Siam read everything he could get hold of about politics
everywhere. Therefore, Sir Rupert had undertaken to invite the Dictator
to this luncheon, and the Dictator had willingly undertaken to come.
Soame Rivers had been showing Sir Lionel over the house, and explaining
all its arrangements to him--for the King of Siam had thoughts of
building a palace after the fashion of some first-class and up-to-date
house in London. Sir Lionel was a stout man, rather above the middle
height, but looking rather below it, because of his stoutness. He had a
sharply turned-up dark moustache, and purpling cheeks and eyes that
seemed too tightly fitted into the face for their own personal comfort.

Lord Courtreeve was a pale young man, with a very refined and delicate
face. He