kin, whom he thought had long
since reached Amsterdam, or had returned to his family mansion. Yes, it
was the Baron, not decreased in rotund proportions since they parted.
"Grand, very grand!" he exclaimed in sonorous tones, approaching the
picture. "It reminds me forcibly of the best of Claude's productions;
exquisite colouring!"

"And what is your opinion, Count Funnibos?" asked the President.

"He has grown wonderfully fat," answered the Count, who was thinking of
the Baron. "I fear that no carriage can be found strong enough to take
him home."

"I beg your pardon, Count, I was speaking of the picture," remarked the
President. The Baron, however, had heard the Count's voice; turning
round, he opened his arms to give him a friendly embrace.

"What, my dear Count! Is it you, yourself?"

"I think you ran away and left me to my mysterious fate," said the
Count, with a slight degree of stiffness. "I conclude that you did not
receive my letter requesting you to meet me at Amsterdam, and stating
the reasons for my not rejoining you sooner; however, I am very glad to
see you again."

"No, indeed, I received no letter," answered the Baron. "Had I done so,
it would have saved me a world of anxiety."

"We must remember that we are in the presence of strangers," said the
Count. "Our friend here desired to know my opinion of that magnificent
picture. I may add that it surpasses my utmost expectations."

His opinion highly pleased the artist as well as the spectators, who
were delighted to find their countryman's production so highly praised
by two distinguished foreigners.

"And now, Count," said the Baron, as they walked away arm in arm, "I am
compelled to return home. My son, the hope of my house, is about to
marry a lady whose magnificent fortune will retrieve the fallen fortunes
of our family. Will you accompany me?"

"By all manner of means," answered the Count. "I have met with
sufficient adventures, or rather misadventures, to satisfy me for the
rest of my life. I have seen a large portion of Holland, if not the
whole of it, and I am satisfied that it is as well worth seeing as any
country in the world."

"Your decision gives me infinite satisfaction," answered the Baron. "We
will go back to-morrow, and I hope that you will be present at the
wedding of my beloved son. I would rather he married the lady himself,
though she is of an age which might have been considered suitable to
me."

The Cou