ment must be carried on," said I.

The signorina did not catch the allusion. She yawned, and said:

"Oh, then, I shall go. Rely on my loyalty, your Excellency."

She made him a courtesy and went to the door. As I opened it for
her she whispered, "Horrid old bear! Come and see me, Jack," and so
vanished, carrying off her dollars.

I returned and sat down opposite the colonel.

"I wonder how she knew about the washing-stand," I remarked.

"Because Whittingham was fool enough to tell her, I suppose," said the
colonel testily, as if he disliked the subject.

Then we settled to business. This unambitious tale does not profess to
be a complete history of Aureataland, and I will spare my readers the
recital of our discussion. We decided at last that matters were still
so critical, owing to the President's escape, that the ordinary forms
of law and constitutional government must be temporarily suspended.
The Chamber was not in session, which made this course easier. The
colonel was to be proclaimed President and to assume supreme power
under martial law for some weeks, while we looked about us. It was
thought better that my name should not appear officially, but I agreed
to take in hand, under his supervision, all matters relating to
finance.

"We can't pay the interest on the real debt," he said.

"No," I replied; "you must issue a notice, setting forth that, owing
to General Whittingham's malversations, payments must be temporarily
suspended. Promise it will be all right later on."

"Very good," said he; "and now I shall go and look up those officers.
I must keep them in good temper, and the men too. I shall give 'em
another ten thousand."

"Generous hero!" said I, "and I shall go and restore this cash to my
employers."

It was twelve o'clock when I left the Golden House and strolled
quietly down to Liberty Street. The larger part of the soldiers had
been drawn off, but a couple of companies still kept guard in the
_Piazza_. The usual occupations of life were going on amid a confused
stir of excitement, and I saw by the interest my appearance aroused
that some part at least of my share in the night's doing had leaked
out. The _Gazette_ had published a special edition, in which it hailed
the advent of freedom, and, while lauding McGregor to the skies,
bestowed a warm commendation on the "noble Englishman who, with a
native love of liberty, had taken on himself the burden of Aureataland
in her hour of travail." T