e equal in wealth, population and extent of territory
to our lesser European sovereignties. What is the name of the place to
which I am invited, and where I intend to go?"

"Why do you wish to know the name of our happy home? Why do you wish to
enter our Eden, like another serpent, to destroy it?" exclaimed the lady,
beside herself with fear and wrath.

"There you go again, Friday! You will not drop that bad habit of
flattering a modest man to his face. I declare you will make me vain."

"Why do you wish to trouble me? Why do you wish to come to Mondreer?" she
inquired, wringing her hands.

"Oh, ho! You have come down from your tragics. Mondreer, is it? And why do
I go? Well, to be frank with you, I go to browse upon

"'Fresh fields and pastures green.'"

"I understand. You think the simple, honest, country gentlemen will be
easier prey for your gamester's snares than are the men you meet at public
resorts. And you mean to swindle and fleece them," scornfully replied the
lady.

Again the man's face flushed with anger, but he controlled his temper, and
laughed, saying:

"What a genius you have for compliment, Friday! You should have been a
courtier, where your talents might have been turned to the best advantage;
or a king's favorite. Ah! but there we tread on delicate ground, do we
not?"

"I warn you, Col. Anglesea, not to drive me too far! For sooner than
submit to your insults, I will throw myself upon my husband's mercy, and
claim his protection against you."

"Oh! You will go to him, and tell him that 'tale of old times' of which
you were the heroine? And in his love he will forgive you. And so far so
well. But, then, suppose I also should tell that little story to _all_ and
sundry? How would it be then?" sneered the man.

"Oh! fiend! fiend!" breathed the woman through her white lips and closed
teeth.

"Quite so. You only do me justice. I shall enjoy your conversation at
Mondreer."

"And you go there to rob my husband and our unsuspicious neighbors at the
card table. But you will be disappointed. Mr. Force does not know one card
from another, and his friends seldom or never play."

"What barbarians must be the people of your principality, Friday! I must
really go there as a missionary to teach them the arts of civilized life.
Ah! in good time. Here comes his serene highness. Let us smooth our
ruffled plumage, else he may be asking inconvenient questions," whispered
the colonel, as