s not at all sure that the
Monroe Doctrine, in an inverted form, might not be an absolute bar to
the purchase of a European kingdom by an American. Donovan brushed the
difficulties aside.

"Those points," he said, "will be considered in settling the price.
I'm aware that Europe has its prejudices. I'm not out to trample on
them. Genuine vested interests owned by other monarchs will be paid
for. Ambassadors and chancellors will be taken on and employed at
their old salaries as part of a going concern."

Gorman is, like the Megalians, enterprising and full of courage. He
did not believe that the sale of the Crown of Megalia could possibly
be carried through; but something might be done which would satisfy
Donovan. An estate, carrying with it a title like that of Grand
Duchess, might be made over to Miss Daisy. All kings possess the power
of conferring titles. If such honours are freely sold in a country
like England, there could be no possible objection to the King of
Megalia taking a reasonable price for creating a Grand Duchess, even,
perhaps, a princess. Donovan's next words made Gorman determine to
try what he could do.

"There'll be a rake-off from the purchase price," said Donovan, "for
the man who arranges the sale. I don't kick against a reasonable
percentage."

CHAPTER IV

It was Gorman's misfortune that all through the Megalia negotiations
he had to deal with women as well as men, indeed sometimes with women
rather than men.

Donovan held it as an article of faith that anything in the world can
be bought for money, if only there is money enough. But Donovan would
not have insisted on justifying his faith by putting it to the test.
No one does that. Not even a church, though firmly convinced of its
own infallibility, will bludgeon the world into an acceptance of its
claim by making decisions about matters which are susceptible of
proof. Donovan would have been quite content to believe that he could
purchase the Crown of Megalia without actually doing so. It was Miss
Daisy, who had no theories about the power of money, who insisted on
becoming a queen.

King Konrad Karl knew perfectly well that he could not sell what
Donovan wanted to buy.

"I would," he said, "sell Megalia with damnable pleasure. Your
friend's daughter might be Queen or Empress or Sultana. You, my dear
Gorman, might be king consort when you married her. But you know and I
know and Corinne knows--alas! we all know--that if I at