he metaphor struck me as inappropriate, but
the sentiment was most healthy; and when I finally beheld two officers
of police sitting on the head of a drunken man for toasting the fallen
_regime_, I could say to myself, as I turned into the bank, "Order
reigns in Warsaw."

General assent had proclaimed a suspension of commerce on this
auspicious day, and I found Jones sitting idle and ill at ease. I
explained to him the state of affairs, showing how the President's
dishonorable scheme had compelled me, in the interests of the bank, to
take a more or less active part in the revolution. It was pathetic to
hear him bewail the villainy of the man he had trusted, and when I
produced the money he blessed me fervently, and at once proposed
writing to the directors a full account of the matter.

"They are bound to vote you an honorarium, sir," he said.

"I don't know, Jones," I replied. "I am afraid there is a certain
prejudice against me at headquarters. But in any case I have resolved
to forego the personal advantage that might accrue to me from my
conduct. President McGregor has made a strong representation to me
that the schemes of General Whittingham, if publicly known, would,
however unjustly, prejudice the credit of Aureataland, and he appealed
to me not to give particulars to the world. In matters such as these,
Jones, we cannot be guided solely by selfish considerations."

"God forbid, sir!" said Jones, much moved.

"I have, therefore, consented to restrict myself to a confidential
communication to the directors; they must judge how far they will pass
it on to the shareholders. To the world at large I shall say nothing
of the second loan; and I know you will oblige me by treating this
money as the product of realizations in the ordinary course of
business. The recent disturbances will quite account for so large a
sum being called in."

"I don't quite see how I can arrange that."

"Ah, you are overdone," said I. "Leave it all to me, Jones."

And this I persuaded him to do. In fact, he was so relieved at seeing
the money back that he was easy to deal with; and if he suspected
anything, he was overawed by my present exalted position. He appeared
to forget what I could not, that the President, no doubt, still
possessed that fatal cable!

After lunch I remembered my engagement with the signorina, and,
putting on my hat, was bidding farewell to business, when Jones said:

"There's a note just come for you, sir. A