can lend out a million at 5-1/2 per cent.
And in ten years the whole amount will be paid back. I--er--I believe I
informed you that the fortune of Princess Anna, who is about to accept
my hand, will ultimately amount to something like fifty millions of
marks, which is over two million pounds in your English money.' Prince
Eugen stopped. He had no fancy for talking in this confidential manner
to financiers, but he felt that circumstances demanded it.

'You see, it's like this, your Royal Highness,' began Mr Sampson Levi,
in his homely English idiom. 'It's like this. I said I could keep that
bit of money available till the end of June, and you were to give me an
interview here before that date. Not having heard from your Highness,
and not knowing your Highness's address, though my German agents made
every inquiry, I concluded, that you had made other arrangements, money
being so cheap this last few months.'

'I was unfortunately detained at Ostend,' said Prince Eugen, with as
much haughtiness as he could assume, 'by--by important business. I have
made no other arrangements, and I shall have need of the million. If you
will be so good as to pay it to my London bankers--'

'I'm very sorry,' said Mr Sampson Levi, with a tremendous and dazzling
air of politeness, which surprised even himself, 'but my syndicate
has now lent the money elsewhere. It's in South America--I don't mind
telling your Highness that we've lent it to the Chilean Government.'

'Hang the Chilean Government, Mr Levi,' exclaimed the Prince, and he
went white. 'I must have that million. It was an arrangement.'

'It was an arrangement, I admit,' said Mr Sampson Levi, 'but your
Highness broke the arrangement.'

There was a long silence.

'Do you mean to say,' began the Prince with tense calmness, 'that you
are not in a position to let me have that million?'

'I could let your Highness have a million in a couple of years' time.'

The Prince made a gesture of annoyance. 'Mr Levi,' he said, 'if you
do not place the money in my hands to-morrow you will ruin one of the
oldest of reigning families, and, incidentally, you will alter the map
of Europe. You are not keeping faith, and I had relied on you.'

'Pardon me, your Highness,' said little Levi, rising in resentment, 'it
is not I who have not kept faith. I beg to repeat that the money is no
longer at my disposal, and to bid your Highness good morning.'

And Mr Sampson Levi left the audience chamber with