citedly, "it would not be
politic. And then the measure--"

"Is it possible that I have misconstrued its import?" the diplomat
interposed with a fine air of surprise.

"You are familiar--" began the count, hesitatingly.

"Perfectly; that is, I believe so."

"But England--"

"Has nothing whatever to do with the matter. Something greater, which
goes by the name of self-interest."

"Ah," said the count, his wrinkles relaxing; "then it is on your own
responsibility?"

"Precisely."

"But five millions of crowns--two hundred and fifty thousand pounds!"
The minister could not compose himself. "This is a vast sum of money. We
expected not an individual, but a syndicate, to accept our securities,
to become debtors to the various banks on the continent. But a personal
affair! Five millions of crowns! The possibilities of your wealth
overwhelm me."

The Englishman smiled. "I dare say I have more than my share of this
world's goods. I can give you a check for the amount on the bank of
England."

"Your Majesty's lamented predecessor--"

"Is dead," said the king gently. He had no desire to hear the minister
recount that ruler's virtues. "Peace to his ashes."

"Five millions of crowns!" The minister had lost his equipoise in the
face of the Englishman's great riches, of which hitherto he had held
some doubts. Suddenly a vivid thought entered his confused brain. The
paper cutter in his hand trembled. In the breathing space allowed him
he began to calculate rapidly. The king and the diplomat had been in the
garden; something had passed between them. What? The paper cutter slowly
ceased its uneven movements. The count calmly placed it behind the
inkwells. .... The Englishman knew. The glitter of gold gave way to
the thought of the peril. A chasm yawned at his feet. But he was an old
soldier in the game of words and cross-purposes.

"We should be happy to accord you the privilege of becoming the
kingdom's creditor," he said, smiling at the diplomat, whom nothing had
escaped. "I am afraid, however, that your request has been submitted too
late. At ten o'clock this morning the transfer of the certificates would
have been a simple matter. There are twenty in all; it may not be too
late to secure some of them." He looked tranquilly from the Englishman
to the king.

The smiling mask fell from the king's face; he felt that he was lost. He
tried to catch his friend's eye, but the diplomat was deeply interested
in the console