father away, on pretence of an engagement.

"You should have let _me_ smash him," muttered the old man, bitterly,
as he followed him from the room. "You should have given me fifteen
minutes,--ay, ten. I 'd not have asked more than ten to present him with
a finished picture of his model Republican, in dress, manner, morals,
and demeanor. I'd have said, 'Here is what I myself have seen--'"

"And I would have stopped you," broke in Alfred, boldly, "and laid my
hand on Quackinboss's shoulder, and said, 'Here is what I have known of
America. Here is one who, without other tie than a generous pity, nursed
me through the contagion of a fever, and made recovery a blessing to me
by his friendship after,--who shared heart and fortune with me when I
was a beggar in both.'"

"You are right, boy,--you are right. How hard it is to crush the old
rebellious spirit in one's nature, even after we have lived to see the
evil it has worked us!"

CHAPTER V. THE MANAGER'S ROOM AT THE "REGENT'S."

At an early hour the next morning the two Laytons presented themselves
at the private door of the "Regents." Mr. Stocmar had returned that
morning from Paris; he had been to bed for an hour, and was now dressed
and up, but so busily engaged that he had left positive orders to be
denied to all except to a certain high personage in the royal household,
and a noble Lord, whose name he had given to the porter.

"We are not either of these," said the doctor, smiling, "but I am a very
old friend, whom he did not know was in England. I have been scores of
times here with him; and to prove how I know my way through flats
and side-scenes, I 'll just step up to his room without asking you to
conduct me." These pleadings were assisted considerably by the dexterous
insinuation of a sovereign into the man's hand; and Layton passed in,
with his son after him.

True to his word, and not a little to Alfred's astonishment, the doctor
threaded his way through many a dark passage and up many a frail
stair, till he reached the well-known, well-remembered door. He knocked
sharply, but, without waiting for reply, turned the handle and entered.
Stocmar, who stood at the table busily breaking the seals of a vast
heap of letters, turned suddenly around and stared at the strangers with
mingled surprise and displeasure.

"I gave positive orders that I could not receive strangers," said he,
haughtily. "May I ask what is the meaning of this intrusion?"

"You shal