t least a hundred times," broke in
Dunn. "We have been overturning the breakwaters that the ocean may
swamp us. But I tell _you_, Baron, that the more democratic we grow in
England, the safer we become. We don't want these alliances we fancied
ourselves once in need of. That family compact redounded but little to
our advantage."

"So it might. But there is another compact now forming, which bodes even
less favorably to you. The Church, by her Concordat, is replacing the
old Holy Alliance. You 'll need the aid of the only power that cannot be
drawn into this league,--I mean the only great power,--Russia."

"If you will wait till we are so minded, Baron," said Dunn, laughing,
"you have plenty of time to help me with my tunnel here." And he pointed
to his plans.

"And where will the world be,--I mean your world and mine,--before the
pick of the workman reaches so far?" and he placed his finger on
the Splugen Alps,--"answer me that. What will be the Government of
France,--I don't ask who? Where will Naples be? What king will be
convoking the Hungarian Diet? Who will be the Russian viceroy on the
Danube?"

"Far more to the purpose were it if I could tell you how would the Three
per Cents stand," broke in Dunn.

"I 'm coming to that," said the other, dryly. "No, no," said he, after
a pause; "let us see this unhappy war finished,--let us wait till we
know who are to be partners in the-great game of European politics.
Lanfranchi tells me that the French and Russians who meet here come
together on the best of terms; that intimacies, and even friendships.
spring up rapidly between them. This fact, if repeated in Downing
Street, might be heard with some misgiving."

Though Dunn affected indifference to this remark, he winced, and walked
to the window to hide his irritation.

Immediately beneath where he stood, a trellised vine-walk led down to
the lake, where the boats were usually in waiting; and from this alley
now a number of voices could be heard, although the speakers were
entirely hidden by the foliage. The gay and laughing tones indicated
a pleasure-party; and such it was, bent on a picnic to Bellaggio. Some
were loud in praises of the morning, and the splendid promise of the
day; others discussed how many boats they should want, and how the party
was to be divided.

"The Americans with the Russians," said Twining, slapping his legs and
laughing; "great friends--capital allies--what fun! Ourselves and the
O'Reill