nd would
himself present me to the King here as the Duca di Crinola
if I chose to remain and to accept the position. But I
certainly will not do so. I should in the first place be
obliged to give up my nationality. I could not live in
England bearing an Italian title, except as an Italian. I
do not know that as an Italian I should be forced to give
up my place in the Post Office. Foreigners, I believe,
are employed in the Civil Service. But there would be an
absurdity in it which to me would be specially annoying. I
could not live under such a weight of ridicule. Nor could
I live in any position in which some meagre income might
be found for me because of my nobility. No such income
would be forthcoming here. I can imagine that your father
might make a provision for a poor son-in-law with a grand
title. He ought not to do so, according to my ideas, but
it might be possible that he should find himself persuaded
to such weakness. But I could not accept it. I should not
be above taking money with my wife, if it happened to come
in my way, provided that I were earning an income myself
to the best of my ability. For her sake I should do what
might be best for her. But not even for your sake,--if you
wished it, as I know you do not,--could I consent to hang
about the world in idleness as an Italian duke without a
shilling of my own. Therefore, my darling, I purpose to
come back as I went,

Your own,

GEORGE RODEN.

Clerk in the Post Office, and entitled to consider myself
as being on "H.M.S." when at work from ten till four.

This letter reached Lady Frances at Hendon Hall on the return of
herself and her brother from Gorse Hall. But before that time the
prophecy uttered by Lord Hampstead as to the story being all over
London had already been in part fulfilled. Vivian during their
hunting weeks at Gorse Hall had been running continually up and down
from London, where his work as private secretary to the Secretary
of State had been, of course, most constant and important. He had,
nevertheless, managed to have three days a week in Northamptonshire,
explaining to his friends in London that he did it by sitting up all
night in the country, to his friends in the country that he sat up
all night in town. There are some achievements which are never done
in the presence of those who hear of them. Catching salmon is one,
and working all n