on air, be hanged to him."

"Let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. Pendennis," Warrington said,
with great gravity. "Pen, this is Mr Archer, whom you have heard me
talk about. You must know Pen's uncle, the Major, Archer, you who know
everybody?"

"Dined with him the day before yesterday at Gaunt House," Archer said.
"We were four--the French Ambassador, Steyne, and we two commoners."

"Why, my uncle is in Scot----" Pen was going to break out, but
Warrington pressed his foot under the table as a signal for him to be
quiet.

"It was about the same business that I have been to the palace
to-night," Archer went on simply, "and where I've been kept four hours,
in an anteroom, with nothing but yesterday's Times, which I knew by
heart, as I wrote three of the leading articles myself; and though the
Lord Chamberlain came in four times, and once holding the royal teacup
and saucer in his hand, he did not so much as say to me, 'Archer, will
you have a cup of tea?'"

"Indeed! what is in the wind now?" asked Warrington--and turning to Pen,
added, "You know, I suppose, that when there is anything wrong at Court
they always send for Archer."

"There is something wrong," said Mr. Archer, "and as the story will be
all over the town in a day or two I don't mind telling it. At the last
Chantilly races, where I rode Brian Boru for my old friend the Duke de
Saint Cloud--the old King said to me, Archer, I'm uneasy about Saint
Cloud. I have arranged his marriage with the Princess Marie Cunegonde;
the peace of Europe depends upon it--for Russia will declare war if the
marriage does not take place, and the young fool is so mad about Madame
Massena, Marshal Massena's wife, that he actually refuses to be a party
to the marriage. Well, Sir, I spoke to Saint Cloud, and having got him
into pretty good humour by winning the race, and a good bit of money
into the bargain, he said to me, 'Archer, tell the Governor I'll think
of it.'"

"How do you say Governor in French?" asked Pen, who piqued himself on
knowing that language.

"Oh, we speak in English--I taught him when we were boys, and I saved
his life at Twickenham, when he fell out of a punt," Archer said. "I
shall never forget the Queen's looks as I brought him out of the water.
She gave me this diamond ring, and always calls me Charles to this day."

"Madame Massena must be rather an old woman, Archer," Warrington said.

"Dev'lish old--old enough to be his grandmother; I told him s