llustrated papers, and there were short articles in the Sunday
papers which gave a history of the Order, describing it as the most
ancient in Europe, and quoting the names of eminent men who had won the
ribbon of the Order in times past. The Duke of Wellington, Lord Nelson,
William the Silent, Galileo, Christopher Columbus, and the historian
Gibbon appeared on the list. The Order was next bestowed on an Admiral,
who held a command in the South Pacific, and on M. Clemenceau.

After that Gorman dined with the King.

The dinner, as is always the case in Beaufort's Hotel, was excellent.
The wine was good. Madame Ypsilante wore a dress which, as she
explained, was more than three months old.

Emile, it appeared, was still pressing for payment of the bill and
refused to supply any more clothes. However, neither age nor custom had
staled the splendour of the purple velvet gown and the jewellery--Madame
Ypsilante always wore a great deal of jewellery--was dazzling.

The king seemed a little uneasy, and after dinner spoke to Gorman about
the Megalian Order of the Pink Vulture.

"You are magnificent, Gorman," he said, "and your English press! Ah, my
friend, if you had been Prime Minister in Megalia, and if there had been
newspapers, I might to-day be sitting on the throne, though I do not
want to, not at all. The throne of Megalia is what you call a hot spot.
But my friend is it wise? There must be someone who knows that the
Pink Vulture of Megalia is not an antique. It is, as the English say,
mid-Victorian. 1865, Gorman. That is the date; and someone will know
that."

"I daresay," said Gorman, "that there may be two or three people who
know; but they haven't opened their mouths so far and before they do we
ought to have Bilkins' checque safe."

"How much?" said Madame. "That is the thing which matters."

"After he's read the list of distinguished men who held the order in the
past and digested the names of all the generals and people who've just
been given it, we may fairly expect L5,000. We'll screw him up a bit if
we can, but we won't take a penny less. Considering the row there'll be
afterwards, when Bilkins finds out, we ought to get L10,000. It will be
most unpleasant, and it's bound to come. Most of the others will refuse
the Order as soon as they hear they've been given it, and Bilkins will
storm horribly and say he has been swindled, not that there is any harm
in swindling Bilkins. After that egg racket of his he