as her whim to give a large party before going to any. To this end, she
forced her Aunt Middleton to issue cards and make preparations on a
grand scale for a very magnificent ball.

"It must eclipse everything else that has been done, or can be done,
this season!" said Claudia.

"Humph!" answered Mrs. Middleton.

"We must have Dureezie's celebrated band for the music, you know!"

"My dear, he charges a thousand dollars a night to leave New York and
play for anyone!"

"Well? what if it were two thousand--ten thousand? I will have him. Tell
Ishmael to write to him at once."

"Very well, my dear. You are spending your own money, remember."

"Who cares? I will be the only one who engages Dureezie's famous music.
And, Aunt Middleton?"

"Well, my dear?"

"Vourienne must decorate the rooms."

"My dear, his charges are enormous."

"So is my fortune, Aunt Middleton," laughed Claudia.

"Very well," sighed the lady.

"And--aunt?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Devizac must supply the supper."

"Claudia, you are mad! Everything that man touches turns to gold--for
his own pocket."

Claudia shrugged her shoulders.

"Aunt, what do I care for all that. I can afford it. As long as he can
hold out to charge, I can hold out to pay. I mean to enjoy my fortune,
and live while I live."

"Ah, my dear, wealth was given for other purposes than the enjoyment of
its possessor!" sighed Mrs. Middleton.

"I know it, aunty. It was given for the advancement of its possessor. I
have another object besides enjoyment in view. I say, aunty!"

"Well, my child?"

"We must be very careful whom we have here."

"Of course, my dear."

"We must have the best people."

"Certainly."

"We must invite the diplomatic corps."

"By all means."

"And--all foreigners of distinction, who may be present in the city."

"Yes, my love."

"We must not forget to invite--"

"Who, my dear?"

"Lord Vincent."

"Humph! Has he called here?"

"He left his card a week ago."

The day succeeding this conversation the cards of invitation to the
Merlin ball were issued.

And in ten days the ball came off.

It was--as Miss Merlin had resolved it should be--the most splendid
affair of the kind that has ever been seen in Washington, before or
since. It cost a small fortune, of course, but it was unsurpassed and
unsurpassable. Even to this day it is remembered as the great ball. As
Claudia had determined, Vourienne superintended the decorations of the
rec