nor for any one."

"Corinne!" said the King reproachfully. "Would I ask it of you? No. If
a sale is arranged I give a bill to the American, a bill of three
months, and for security I place at his disposal--I pledge the revenue
of Megalia for ten years; for a hundred years. If it seems more
desirable that I marry; good, I am ready. The American girl comes to
Paris. I meet her. We marry. The Emperor is satisfied. It is upon you,
my dear Gorman, to fix it down."

"I don't see," said Gorman, "how I can possibly undertake----It's
asking a lot, you know. Besides----"

"You are my friend," said the King. "Can I ask more than too much from
my friend?"

"Besides," said Gorman, "it's no kind of use. Donovan isn't likely to
sell. He certainly wouldn't accept your bill if he did sell. And
marrying the girl is out of the question. What's the good of my
undertaking impossibilities?"

The King stood up. With his cigar between his fingers he raised his
right hand above his head. He laid his left hand upon his shirt front.
It was an impressive and heroic attitude.

"For Gorman, M.P.," he said, "there are in the world no
impossibilities. For his talents all careers are open doors. When
Gorman, M.P., says 'I do it,' the damned thing at once is done. I
offer----But no. I do not offer where I trust----I confer upon
Gorman, M.P., the Order of the Royal Pink Vulture of Megalia, First
Class. You are Knight Commander, my friend. You are also Count Gorman
if you wish."

Madame Ypsilante slipped from her chair and knelt down at Gorman's
feet. She took his right hand and kissed it with every appearance of
fervour.

"You will do it," she said, "for the sake of Konrad Karl. Oh, Sir
Gorman, M.P., you would do it at once if you understood. Poor Konrad!
He is having so much delight with me in Paris. This time only in our
lives it has come to us to have enough money and to be in Paris. It is
cruel--so cruel that the Emperor should say: 'No. Give back the money.
Go from Paris. Be starved. Have no pearls, no joy.' But you will save
us. Say you will save us."

Gorman's position was an exceedingly difficult one. Madame Ypsilante
had firm hold on his hand. She was kissing it at the moment. He was
not at all sure that she would not bite it if he refused her request.

"I'll think the whole thing over," he said. "I don't expect I can do
anything, but I'll look into the matter and let you know."

Madame mouthed his hand in a frenzy of gratitude.