aid Gorman, "but even he would
hardly be able to make King Konrad Karl fork out what he hasn't got.
You may safely bet your last shilling that most of what Donovan paid
for that island is spent, chucked away, gone scat."

"The Emperor," said Sir Bartholomew, "will be responsible for the
return in full of the purchase price."

"Very well," said Gorman, "and now suppose Donovan won't sell. Suppose
he simply says 'No.'"

"There is an alternative policy," said Sir Bartholomew. "It has
occurred to some of us who are interested in the matter--I am not now
speaking with the authority of any ambassador, certainly not with the
formal approval of our Foreign Office. It has occurred to _me_--I will
put it that way. It has occurred to me that the matter might be
settled quite satisfactorily to all parties, to the Emperor certainly
if----The King of Megalia is, I think, unmarried."

"There's Madame Ypsilante," said Gorman, "a lady----"

"A lady! Pooh! In these cases there is always a lady. But the King is
unmarried. Miss Donovan, so we understand, wishes to be a queen. You
catch my meaning?"

"Perfectly. You want me to arrange a marriage between----"

"My dear Mr. Gorman! I want nothing of the sort. I do not ask you to
arrange anything. I merely say that if such a marriage were to take
place the Emperor would probably be satisfied. I am aware that the
personal character of King Konrad Karl is not such----But he is a
young man. There are possibilities of improvement."

"There's certainly room for it."

"Exactly. And the influence of a good woman is just what is needed. A
young, sweet, innocent girl has a marvellous influence. She appeals to
that best which is present even in the worst of us." Sir Bartholomew
liked this phrase. He repeated it. "That best, that astonishing best,
which is always present even in the worst of us. She might call it
out. She might make a new man of King Konrad Karl."

Gorman looked at Sir Bartholomew with an expression of grave and
interested inquiry.

"You think that if Miss Donovan married the King she would save him
from the clutches of Madame Ypsilante."

"Not a doubt of it. And what a splendid thing that would be! It's just
the sort of an idea which would make a strong appeal to a girl. Women
like the idea of reforming their husbands. Besides, the prospect for
her is in other respects most brilliant. She would be recognized by
the Emperor. She would be received in the most exclusive Cour