e
with the Queen. He advised the King to enjoy himself as much as he
could in Paris and to spend his money before it was taken from him. He
added a postscript.

"If the Emperor sends a man called von Moll to negotiate with you--a
sort of naval officer who likes giving orders--ask him whether he had
many casualties in his last sea battle."

His next letter was to Steinwitz. In it, too, he announced the
complete failure of his mission.

"The fact is," he added, by way of explanation, "that these Americans
don't know enough about your Emperor to be properly impressed. Could
you send along a good-sized photo of him, in uniform if possible? I am
sure it would have a great effect."

Then he wrote to Sir Bartholomew Bland-Potterton. Knowing how all
members of our governing classes delight in official fussiness he
threw his letter into a telegraphic form.

"Things more complicated than anticipated," he wrote. "Will
Government recognize Salissa as independent state? Query
attitude President U. S. A. Urgent.--GORMAN."

He read over what he had written with extreme satisfaction. It pleased
him to think that Steinwitz would immediately go out and buy an
enormous photograph of the Emperor; that he would send it out to
Salissa with perfect confidence in the effect it would produce. It was
also pleasant to think of Konrad Karl and Madame Ypsilante making
efforts to get rid of the remains of Donovan's money by scattering it
about the streets of Paris. But his despatch to Bland-Potterton
pleased him most of all. He imagined that gentleman, swollen with the
consciousness of important news, dashing off to the Foreign Office in
a taxi-cab, posing Ministers of State with unanswerable conundrums,
very probably ruffling the calm waters of Washington with cablegrams
of inordinate length and fierce urgency.

He rang the bell for Smith.

"I've just written some letters," he said; "will you send them off to
the _Ida_ and ask Captain Wilson to have them posted when he arrives
in London or earlier if he calls at any intermediate port."

"Yes, sir. Certainly, sir. Beg pardon, sir, but will you be staying on
in the palace?"

"For a week or two, Smith."

"Thank you, sir. I'll make all arrangements. Your luggage will be
fetched from the steamer. If you leave your keys with me I'll see to
the unpacking."

Gorman had no keys.

"By the way, Smith, what's your Christian name?"

"Edward, sir."

"I asked," said Gorman, "b