n my
daughter, and my niece, and Captain HARRY BOYNE VERNON, and the Hon.
JULIAN KNIGHT BELFORD, and Lord HARRY NICHOLLS BANBERRY (a comic
Peer), and his wife (a converted Quakeress), and DUDLEY J.L. SHINE
ROPER, a wicked but amusing Hebrew, hanging about. Cannot we meet for
two minutes, and set everything to-rights?"

"My dear Sir JOHN," returned MAURICE FERNANDEZ DEEPWATER, "pray
consider yourself mistaken. As you say, if we all met together for
two minutes in a room, the whole thing would be settled. But then I
am distinctly under the impression that AUGUSTE LE GRAND and HENRI LE
PETTITT would be confoundedly annoyed."

"Oh," exclaimed Sir JOHN, "if you think _they_ would be annoyed, do
not say another word about it!"

So the various characters gave one another a clear berth, and missed
each other at the nick of time.

But after awhile ROSE was left alone with the Hon. JULIAN BELFORD.

"It is not very clear to me why we haven't married," said he.

"Nor to me either!" she replied. "We dawdled a bit, and I daresay put
it off because what one knows can be done at any moment is often not
done at all."

"Well, hadn't we better go to the British Embassy?"

"Why, yes." she replied, with some hesitation; "but I really think
you had better say you will marry my cousin. I fancy it would please
AUGUSTE and HENRI."

"Anything to oblige them," returned the Hon. JULIAN.

"That being settled, please leave me, as I have to fall in a dead
faint--must get an effective Curtain, you know!"

The HON. JULIAN KNIGHT BELFORD nodded his head, and then ROSE MILLWARD
WOODMERE fainted--with the desired result.

CHAPTER III.--_CACKLE_ V. _'OSSES. THE FAVOURITE WINS._

And now Sir JOHN and his considerate circle had come to England, and
were close to Liverpool.

"My dear people," said HENRI, "never mind your love-making, never mind
your plot, leave it to AUGUSTE, and he will pull you through."

And HENRI was quite right. AUGUSTE went to work with a will, and did
pull them through. He took them to the Grand National Steeple Chace,
and showed them and all the world a sight the like of which they had
never seen before. There were real horses, real touts, and a real
winner. Oh, how it went! It was magnificent! And, before this great
race, AUGUSTE (helped by HENRI this time) showed a training-stable,
and how a favourite can be nobbled. It didn't in the least matter
why it was done, or where it was done. It was a lovely sight to see