I heard it; I was present when he said it."

"If I did not accept when it was offered, the reason was this: I thought
that the first time I wrote myself Count of Amalfi, old Santarelli
would summon me before him to show birth and parentage, and fifty other
particulars which I could have no wish to see inquired after; and as the
title of Amalfi was one once borne by a cadet of the royal family, he 'd
have been all the more exacting in his perquisitions before inscribing
my name in that precious volume he calls the 'Libro d'Oro.' If, however,
you tell me that the King considers that I have accepted the rank, it
gives the matter another aspect."

"I suspect poor old Santarelli has very little heart for heraldry just
now. He has got a notion that the first man the Revolutionists will
hang will be himself, representing, as he does, all the privileges of
feudalism."

"There is one way to do it if it could be managed," said Maitland,
pondering. "Three lines in the King's hand, addressing me 'The Chevalier
Maitland, Count of Amalfi!' With these I 'd defy all the heralds that
ever carried a painted coat in a procession."

"If that be all, I 'll promise you it. I am writing to Filangieri
to-morrow. Let me have some details of what men you have recruited and
what services you have rendered, briefly, not formally; and I'll say,
'If our master would vouchsafe in his own hand a line, a word even, to
the Count of Amalfi, it would be a recompense he would not exchange for
millions.' I 'll say 'that the letter could be sent to Ludolf at Turin,
where we shall probably be in a week or two. '"

"And do you think the King will accede?"

"Of course he will. We are not asking for a pension, or leave to shoot
at Caserta. The thing is the same as done. Kings like a cheap road out
of their indebtedness as well as humbler people. If not, they would
never have invented crosses and grand cordons."

"Now, let us concoct the thing regularly," said Maitland, pushing the
decanters from before him, as though, by a gesture, to show that he had
turned from all conviviality to serious considerations. "You," continued
he, "will, first of all, write to Filangieri."

"Yes. I will say, half incidentally, as it were, Maitland is here with
me, as eager as the warmest of us in the cause. He has been eminently
successful in his recruitment, of which he will soon send you details--"

"Ay, but how? That fellow M'Caskey, who has all the papers, did not meet