ring like zis!"

His pudding-spoon, in vivid illustration, skipped across the table and
struck his factor smartly on the shirt-front.

"Sare, I beg your pardon," he beamed with a graciousness that charmed
Mrs. Gallosh even more than his spirited conversation--"Ach, do not
return it, please! It is from my castle silver--keep it in memory of zis
happy night!"

The royal generosity of this act almost reconciled Mrs. Gallosh to the
loss of one of her own silver spoons.

"Saved!" sighed Bunker, draining his glass with a relish he had not felt
in any item of the feast hitherto.

Now that the Baron's courage had returned, no heraldic lion ever pranced
more bravely. His laughter, his jests, his compliments were showered
upon the delighted diners. Mr. Gallosh and he drank healths down the
whole length of the table "mit no tap-heels!" at least four times.
He peeled an orange for Miss Gallosh, and cut the skin into the most
diverting figures, pressing her hand tenderly as he presented her
with these works of art. He inquired of Mrs. Gallosh the names of the
clergymen, and, shouting something distantly resembling these, toasted
them each and all with what he conceived to be appropriate comments.
Finally he rose to his feet, and, to the surprise and delight of all,
delivered the speech they had been disappointed of earlier in the day.

"Goot Mr. Gallosh, fair Mrs. Gallosh, divine Mees Gallosh, and all
ze ladies and gentlemans, how sorry I vas I could not make my speech
before, I cannot eggspress. I had a headache, and vas not vell vithin.
Ach, soch zings vill happen in a new climate. Bot now I am inspired to
tell you I loff you all! I zank you eggstremely! How can I return
zis hospitality? I vill tell you! You must all go to Bavaria and stay
mit----"

"Tulliwuddle! Tulliwuddle!" shouted Bunker frantically, to the great
amazement of the company. "Allow me to invite the company myself to stay
with me in Bavaria!"

The Baron turned crimson, as he realized the abyss of error into which
he had so nearly plunged. Adroitly the Count covered his confusion with
a fit of laughter so ingeniously hearty that in a moment he had joined
in it too.

"Ha, ha, ha!" he shouted. "Zat was a leetle joke at my friend's
eggspense. It is here, in my castle, you shall visit me; some day very
soon I shall live in him. Meanvile, dear Mrs. Gallosh, gonsider it your
home! For me you make it heaven, and I cannot ask more zan zat! Now let
us gom and ha