requested to take a seat. He was still engaged in
gazing about him when a door at the further end of the room opened and
there entered a fair man, with an obvious stoop, a monocle, a heavy
drooping moustache, and the nose of a duke in a novelette.

"Mr. John Dene?" he asked, looking at the slip of paper in his hand.

"Sure," was the response, as John Dene continued to twirl the cigar in
his mouth, with him always a sign either of thought or of irritation.

"You wish to see the First Lord?" continued the fair man. "I am his
secretary. Will you give me some idea of your business?"

"No, I won't," was the blunt response.

Mr. Blair was momentarily disconcerted by the uncompromising nature of
the retort, but quickly recovered himself.

"I am afraid Sir Lyster is very busy this morning," he said,
diplomatically. "If you----"

"Look here," interrupted John Dene, "I've come three thousand miles to
tell him something; if he hasn't time to listen, then I'll not waste my
time; but before you decide to send me about my business, you just ring
up the Agent-General for Can'da and ask who John Dene of T'ronto is;
maybe you'll learn something."

"But will you not give me some idea----" began the secretary.

"No, I won't," was the obstinate reply. "Here," he cried with sudden
inspiration, "give me some paper and a pen, and I'll write a note."

Mr. Blair sighed his relief; he was a man of peace. He quickly
supplied the caller's demands. Slowly he indited his letter; then,
taking a case from his pocket, he extracted an envelope which he
enclosed with the letter in another envelope, and finally addressed it
to "The First Lord of the Admiralty."

"Give him this," he said, turning to Mr. Blair, "and say I'm in a
hurry."

Nothing but a long line of ancestors prevented Mr. Blair from gasping.
Instead he took the note with a diplomatic smile.

"You wouldn't do for T'ronto," muttered John Dene as the First Lord's
private secretary left the room. Two minutes later he returned.

"Sir Lyster will see you, Mr. Dene," he said with a smile. "Will you
come this way? I'm sorry if----"

"Don't be sorry," said John Dene patiently; "you're just doing your job
as best you can."

Whilst John Dene was being led by Mr. Blair to the First Lord's private
room, Sir Lyster was re-reading the astonishing note that had been sent
in to him, which ran:

"DEAR SIR,--

"I am John Dene of Toronto, I have come three thousand miles to tell