most scrupulous of men. He will be by my side
almost continually. Baron, you will act as my judge, my censor, and my
chaperon?"

"Tollyvoddle, I swear to you zat I shall use an eye like ze eagle. He
shall be so careful--ach, I shall see to it! Myself, I am a Bayard mit
ze ladies, and Bonker he shall not be less so!"

"Thanks, Baron, thanks awfully," said his lordship. "Now my mind is
quite at rest!"

In the vestibule of the restaurant they bade good-night to the confiding
nobleman, and then turned to one another with an adventurer's smile.

"You are sure you can leave your diplomatic duties?" asked Essington.

"Zey vill be my diplomatic duties zat I go to do! Oh, I shall prepare a
leetle story--do not fear me."

The Baron chuckled, and then burst forth

"Never was zere a man like you. Oh, cunning Mistair Bonker! And you vill
give me zomezing to do in ze adventure, eh?"

"I promise you that, Baron."

As he gave this reassuring pledge, a peculiar smile stole over Mr.
Bunker's face--a smile that seemed to suggest even happier possibilities
than either of his distinguished friends contemplated.

CHAPTER V

It is at all times pleasant to contemplate thorough workmanship
and sagacious foresight, particularly when these are allied with
disinterested purpose and genuine enthusiasm. For the next few days Mr.
Bunker, preparing to carry out to the best of his ability the delicate
commission with which he had been entrusted, presented this stimulating
spectacle.

Absolutely no pains were left untaken. By the aid of some volumes lent
him by Tulliwuddle he learned, and digested in a pocketbook, as much
information as he thought necessary to acquire concerning the history of
the noble family he was temporarily about to enter; together with
notes of their slogan or war-cry (spelled phonetically to avoid the
possibility of a mistake), of their acreage, gross and net rentals, the
names of their land-agents, and many other matters equally to the point.
It was further to be observed that he spared no pains to imprint these
particulars in the Baron's Teutonic memory--whether to support his own
in case of need, or for some more secret purpose, it were impossible to
fathom. Disguised as unconspicuous and harmless persons, they would meet
in many quiet haunts whose unsuspected excellences they could guarantee
from their old experience, and there mature their philanthropic plan.

Not only had its talented originator to impr