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〃Her　father　is　Darius　P。　Maddison；　the　American　Silver　King。〃

The　other　two　could　not　withhold　an　exclamation。

〃He　has　only　two　children；　a　son　and　a　daughter；　and　he　wants　to　marry　his　daughter　to　an　English　peeror　a　Scotch；　it's　all　the　same。　　My　aunt　knows　'em　pretty　well；　and　she　has　recommended　me。〃

〃An　excellent　selection；〃　commented　his　host。

〃But　the　trouble　is；　they　want　rather　a　high…class　peer。　　Old　Maddison　is　deuced　particular；　and　I　believe　the　girl　is　even　worse。〃

〃What　are　the　qualifications　desired？〃

〃Oh；　he's　got　to　be　ambitious；　and　a　promising　young　manand　elevated　tastesand　all　that　kind　of　nonsense。〃

〃But　you　can　be　all　zat　if　you　try！〃　said　the　Baron　eagerly。　　〃Go　to　Germany　and　get　trained。　　I　did　vork　twelve　hours　a　day　for　ten　years　to　be　vat　I　am。〃

〃I'm　different；〃　replied　the　young　peer　gloomily。　　〃Nobody　ever　trained　me。　　Old　Tulliwuddle　might　have　taken　me　up　if　he　had　liked；　but　he　was　prejudiced　against　me。　　I　can't　become　all　those　things　now。〃

〃And　yet　you　do　want　to　marry　the　lady？〃

〃My　dear　Essington；　I　can't　afford　to　lose　such　a　chance！　　One　doesn't　get　a　Miss　Maddison　every　day。　　She's　a　deuced　handsome　girl　too；　they　say。〃

〃By　Gad；　it's　worth　a　trip　across　the　Atlantic　to　try　your　luck；〃　said　Essington。　　〃Get　'em　to　guarantee　your　expenses　and　you'll　at　least　learn　to　play　poker　and　see　Niagara　for　nothing。〃

〃They　aren't　in　America。　　They've　got　a　salmon　river　in　Scotland；　and　they　are　there　now。　　It's　not　far　from　my　place；　Hechnahoul。〃

〃She's　practically　in　your　arms；　then？〃

〃Ach。　　Ze　affair　is　easy！〃

〃Pipe　up　the　clan　and　abduct　her！〃

〃Approach　her　mit　a　kilt！〃

But　even　those　optimistic　exhortations　left　the　peer　still　melancholy。

〃It　sounds　all　very　well；〃　said　he；　〃but　my　clansmen；　as　you　call　'em；　would　expect　such　a　devil　of　a　lot　from　me　too。　　Old　Tulliwuddle　spoiled　them　for　any　ordinary　mortal。　　He　went　about　looking　like　an　advertisement　for　whisky；　and　called　'em　all　by　their　beastly　Gaelic　names。　　I　have　never　been　in　Scotland　in　my　life；　and　I　can't　do　that　sort　of　thing。　　I'd　merely　make　a　fool　of　myself。　　If　I'd　had　to　go　to　America　it　wouldn't　have　been　so　bad。〃

At　this　weak…kneed　confession　the　Baron　could　hardly　withhold　an　exclamation　of　contempt；　but　Essington；　with　more　sympathy；　inquired

〃What　do　you　propose　to　do；　then？〃

His　lordship　emptied　his　glass。

〃I　wish　I　had　your　brains　and　your　way　of　carrying　things　off；　Essington！〃　he　said；　with　a　sigh。　　〃If　you　got　a　chance　of　showing　yourself　off　to　Miss　Maddison　she'd　jump　at　you！〃

A　gleam；　inspired　and　humorous；　leaped　into　Essington's　eyes。　　The　Baron；　whose　glance　happened　at　the　moment　to　fall　on　him；　bounded　gleefully　from　his　seat。

〃Hoch！〃　he　cried；　〃it　is　mine　old　Bonker　zat　I　see　before　me！　　Vat　have　you　in　your　mind？〃

〃Sit　down；　my　dear　Baron；　that　lady　over　there　thinks　you　are　preparing　to　attack　her。　　Shall　we　smoke？　　Try　these　cigars。〃

Throwing　the　Baron　a　shrewd　glance　to　calm　his　somewhat　alarming　exhilaration；　their　host　turned　with　a　graver　air　to　his　other　guest。

〃Tulliwuddle；〃　said　he；　〃I　should　like　to　help　you。〃

〃I　wish　to　the　deuce　you　could！〃

Essington　bent　over　the　table　confidentially。

〃I　have　an　idea。〃



CHAPTER　IV

The　three　heads　bent　forward　towards　a　common　centrethe　Baron　agog　with　suppressed　excitement；　Tulliwuddle　revived　with　curiosity　and　a　gleam　of　hope；　Essington　impressive　and　cool。

〃I　take　it；〃　he　began；　〃that　if　Mr。　Darius　P。　Maddison　and　his　coveted　daughter　could　see　a　little　of　Lord　Tulliwuddlemeet　him　at　lunch；　talk　to　him　afterwards；　for　instanceand　carry　away　a　favorable　impression　of　the　nobleman；　there　would　not　be　much　difficulty　in　subsequently　arranging　a　marriage？〃

〃Oh；　none；〃　said　Tulliwuddle。　　〃They'd　be　only　too　keen；　IF　they　approved　of　me；　but　that's　the　rub；　you　know。〃

〃So　far　so　good。　　Now　it　appears　to　me　that　our　modest　friend　here　somewhat　underrates　his　own　powers　of　fascination〃

〃Ach；　Tollyvoddle；　you　do　indeed；〃　interjected　the　Baron。

〃But　since　this　idea　is　so　firmly　established　in　his　mind　that　it　may　actually　prevent　him　from　displaying　himself　to　the　greatest　advantage；　and　since　he　has　been　good　enough　to　declare　that　he　would　regard　with　complete　confidence　my　own　chances　of　success　were　I　in　his　place；　I　would　proposewith　all　becoming　diffidence　that　_I_　should　interview　the　lady　and　her　parent　instead　of　him。〃

〃A　vary　vise　idea；　Bonker；〃　observed　the　Baron。

〃What！〃　said　Tulliwuddle。　　〃Do　you　mean　that　you　would　go　and　crack　me　up；　and　that　sort　of　thing？〃

〃No；　I　mean　that　I　should　enjoy　a　temporary　loan　of　your　name　and　of　your　residence；　and　assure　them　by　a　personal　inspection　that　I　have　a　sufficient　assortment　of　virtues　for　their　requirements。〃

〃Splendid！〃　shouted　the　Baron。　　〃Tollyvoddle；　accept　zis　generous　offer　before　it　is　too　late！〃

〃But；〃　gasped　the　diffident　nobleman；　〃they　would　find　out　the　next　time　they　saw　me。〃

〃If　the　business　is　properly　arranged；　that　would　only　be　when　you　came　out　of　church　with　her。　　Look　herewhat　fault　have　you　to　find　with　this　scheme？　　I　produce　the　desired　impression；　and　either　propose　at　once　and　am　accepted〃

〃H'm；〃　muttered　Tulliwuddle　doubtfully。

〃Or　I　leave　things　in　such　good　train　that　you　can　propose　and　get　accepted　afterwards　by　letter。〃

〃That's　better；〃　said　Tulliwuddle。

〃Then；　by　a　little　exercise　of　our　wits；　you　find　an　excuse　for　hurrying　on　the　marriagehave　it　a　private　affair　for　family　reasons；　and　so　on。　　You　will　be　prevented　by　one　excuse　or　another　from　meeting　the　lady　till　the　wedding…day。　　We　shall　choose　a　darkish　church；　you　will　have　a　plaster　on　your　faceand　the　deed　is　done！〃

〃Not　a　fault　can　I　find；〃　commented　the　Baron　sagely。　　〃Essington；　I　congratulate　you。〃

Between　his　complete　confidence　in　Essington　and　the　Baron's　unqualified　commendation；　Lord　Tulliwuddle　was　carried　away　by　the　project。

〃I　say；　Essington；　what　a　good　fellow　you　are！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　really　think　it　will　work？〃

〃What　do　you　say；　Baron？〃

〃It　cannot　fail；　I　do　solemnly　assure　you。　　Be　thankful　you　have　soch　a　friend；　Tollyvoddle！〃

〃You　don't　think　anybody　will　suspect　that　you　aren't　really　me？〃

〃Does　any　one　up　at　Hechnahoul　know　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃And　no　one　there　knows　me。　　They　will　never　suspect　for　an　instant。〃

His　lordship　assumed　a　look　that　would　have　been　serious；　almost　impressive；　had　he　first　removed　his　eye…　glass。　　Evidently　some　weighty　consideration　had　occurred　to　him。

〃You　are　an　awfully　clever　chap；　Essington；〃　he　said；　〃and　deuced　superior　to　most　fellows；　anderall　that　kind　of　thing。　　Butwellyou　don't　mind　my　saying　it？〃

〃My　morals？　　My　appearance？　　Say　anything　you　like；　my　dear　fellow。〃

〃It's　only　this；　that　noblesse　oblige；　and　that　kind　of　thing；　you　know。〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　don't　quite　follow。〃

〃Well；　I　mean　that　you　aren't　a　nobleman；　and　do　you　think　you　could　carry　things　off　like　aahlike　a　Tulliwuddle？〃

Essington　remained　entirely　serious。

〃I　shall　have　at　my　elbow　an　adviser　whose　knowledge　of　the　highest　society　in　Europe　is；　without　exaggeration；　unequalled。　　Your　perfectly　natural　doubts　will　be　laid　at　rest　when　I　tell　you　that　I　hope　to　be　accompanied　by　the　Baron　Rudolph　von　Blitzenberg。〃

The　Baron　could　no　longer　contain　himself。

〃Himmel！　　Hurray！　　My　dear　friend；　I　vill　go　mit　you　to　hell！〃

〃That's　very　good　of　you；〃　said　Essington；　〃but　you　mistake　my　present　destination。　　I　merely　wish　your　company　as　far　as　the　Castle　of　Hechnahoul。〃

〃I　gom　mit　so　moch　pleasure　zat　I　cannot　eggspress！　　Tollyvoddle；　be　no　longer　afraid。　　I　have　helped　to　write　a　book　on　ze　noble　families　of　Germanyzat　is　to　say；　I　have　contributed　my　portrait　and　some　anecdote。　　Our　dear　friend　shall　make　no　mistakes！〃

By　this　guarantee　Lord　Tulliwuddle's　last　doubts　were　completely　set　at　rest。　　His　spirits　rose　as　he　perceived　how　happily　this　easy　avenue　would　lead　him　out　of　all　his　troubles。　　He　insisted　on　calling　for　wine　and　pledging　success　to　the　adventure　with　the　most　resolute　and　confident　air；　and　nothing　but　a　few　details　remained　now　to　be　settled。　　These　were　chiefly　with　regard　to　the　precise　limits　up　to　which　the　duplicate　Lord　Tulliwuddle　might　advance　his　conquering　arms。

〃You　won't　formally　propose；　will　you？〃　said　the　first　edition　of　that　peer。

〃Certainly　not；　if　you　prefer　to　negotiate　the　surrender　yourself；〃　the　later　impression　assured　him。

〃And　you　mustn'tweller〃

〃I　shall　touch　nothing。〃

〃A　girl　might　get　carried　away　by　you；〃　said　the　original　peer　a　trifle　doubtfully。

〃The　Baron　is　the　most　scrupulous　of　men。　　He　will　be　by　my　side　almost　continually。　　Baron；　you　will　act　as　my　judge；　my　censor；　and　my　chaperon？〃

〃Tollyvoddle；　I　swear　to　you　zat　I　shall　use　an　eye　like　ze　eagle。　　He　shall　be　so　carefulach；　I　shall　see　to　it！　　Myself；　I　am　a　Bayard　mit　ze　ladies；　and　Bonker　he　shall　not　be　less　so！〃

〃Thanks；　Baron；　thanks　awfully；〃　said　his　lordship。　　〃Now　my　mind　is　quite　at　rest！〃

In　the　vestibule　of　the　restaurant　they　bade　good…　night　to　the　confiding　nobleman；　and　then　turned　to　one　another　with　an　adventurer's　smile。

〃You　are　sure　you　can