eing stupid. Certainly Gorman was
not in the very least impressed. Being an Irishman, Gorman knows the
official class thoroughly. Ireland is a kind of laboratory for the
culture of the mandarin bacillus.

"May I," said Sir Bartholomew, "intrude on your time, and ask you one
or two questions on a matter of some little importance?"

Gorman had no objection to being asked questions. Whether he would
answer them or not was another matter.

"I think," said Sir Bartholomew, "that you know King Konrad Karl of
Megalia."

That was not a question, so Gorman gave no answer. He merely puffed at
his pipe which was not drawing well and looked at Sir Bartholomew's
round plump face.

"A rather wild young man," said Sir Bartholomew. "Dissipated would
perhaps be too strong a word. What do you think?"

"It is a strongish word," said Gorman.

Sir Bartholomew tried another cast.

"Mr. Donovan is a friend of yours, I think," he said, "and his
daughter?"

"I've met them," said Gorman.

Sir Bartholomew realized that he was not getting on very fast with
Gorman. He relapsed a little from his high official manner and adopted
a confidential tone.

"There has been a certain amount of talk in diplomatic, or shall we
say semi-diplomatic circles, about King Konrad Karl, mere gossip, of
course, but----"

"I never listen to gossip," said Gorman.

This was untrue. Gorman listens to all the gossip he can and enjoys it
thoroughly.

Sir Bartholomew found it necessary to unbend a little more. He
unbuttoned, so to speak, the two bottom buttons of the waistcoat of
pomposity which he wore.

"I was told a story the other day," he said. "Perhaps I'd better not
mention the name of my informant; but there can be no harm in saying
that he is one of the attaches of the Embassy of a great Power, a
friendly Power."

I expect Sir Bartholomew thought this way of talking would impress
Gorman. It impresses most people. Your story has a much better chance
of being believed and repeated if you tell it on the authority of some
one unnamed and vaguely described than it has if you merely say "young
Smith, the cashier in my bank, told me to-day, that...."

"I am alluding," said Sir Bartholomew, "to a report that has reached
us of an escapade of Miss Donovan's. That young lady--very charming
I'm sure--and her father's immensely rich, but--well, you know what
young girls are."

"Got engaged to a Royal Duke?" said Gorman, "or run away with the
chauffeur?"