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To the banquet itself it is scarcely possible for a mere mortal historian to pay a fitting tribute。 Every rarity known to the gourmet that telegraph could summon to the table in time was served in course upon course。 Even the sweetmeats in the little gold dishes cost on an average a dollar a bon…bon； while the wine was hardly less valuable than liquid radium。 Or at least such was the sworn information subsequently supplied by Count Bunker to the reporter of 〃The Torrydhulish Herald。〃
Eleanor was in her highest spirits。 She sat between the Baron and Mr。 Gallosh； delighted with the honest pleasure and admiration of the merchant； and all the time becoming more satisfied with the demeanor and conversation of the chief。 In fact； the only disappointment she felt was connected with the appearance of Miss Gallosh。 Much as she had desired a confidante； she had never demanded one so remarkably beautiful； and she could not but feel that a very much plainer friend would have served her purpose quite as well and indeed better。 Once or twice she intercepted a glance passing between this superfluously handsome lady and the principal guest； until at last it occurred to her as a strange and unseemly thing that Lord Tulliwuddle should be paying so long a visit to his shooting tenants。 Eva； on her part； felt a curiously similar sensation。 These American gentlemen were as pleasant as report had painted them； but she now discovered an odd antipathy to American women； or at least to their unabashed method of making themselves agreeable to noblemen。 It confirmed； indeed； the worst reports she had heard concerning the way in which they raided the British marriage market。
Being placed beside one of these lovely girls and opposite the other； the Baron； one would think； would be in the highest state of contentment； but though still flushed with his triumphant caperings over the broadswords； and exhibiting a graciousness that charmed his hosts； he struck his observant friend as looking a trifle disturbed at soul。 He would furtively glance across the table and then as furtively throw a sidelong look at his neighbor； and each time he appeared to grow more thoughtful。 And yet he did not look precisely unhappy either。 In fact； there was a gleam in his eye during each of these glances which suggested that both fell upon something he approved of。
The after…luncheon procedure had been carefully arranged between the two adventurers。 The Count was to keep by the Baron's side； and； thus supported； negotiations were to be delicately opened。 Accordingly； when the party rose； the Count whispered a word in Mr。 Maddison's ear。 The millionaire answered with a grave； shrewd look； and his daughter； as if perfectly grasping the situation； led the Galloshes out to inspect the new fir forest。 And then the two noblemen and the two Dariuses faced one another over their cigars。
CHAPTER XXI
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 said Mr。 Maddison； 〃pleasure is pleasure； and business is business。 I guess we mean to do a little of both to…day； if you are perfectly disposed。 What do you say； Count？〃
〃I consider that an occasion selected by you； Mr。 Maddison； is not to be neglected。〃
The millionaire bowed his acknowledgment of the compliment； and turned to the Baron； who； it may be remarked； was wearing an expression of thoughtful gravity not frequently to be noted at Hechnahoul。
〃You desire to say a few words to me； Lord Tulliwuddle； I understand。 I shall be pleased to hear them。〃
With this both father and son bent such earnest brows on the Baron and waited for his answer in such intense silence； that he began to regret the absence of his inspiring pipers。
〃I vould like ze honor to address minemine〃
He threw an imploring glance at his friend； who； without hesitation； threw himself into the breach。
〃Lord Tulliwuddle feels the natural diffidence of a lover in adequately expressing his sentiments。 I understand that he craves your permission to lay a certain case before a certain lady。 I am right； Tulliwuddle？〃
〃Pairfectly；〃 said the Baron； much relieved； 〃to lay a certain case before a certain lady。 Zat is so； yes； exactly。〃
Father and son glanced at one another。
〃Your delicacy does you honor； very great honor；〃 said Mr。 Maddison； 〃but business is business； Lord Tulliwuddle； and I should like to hear your proposition more precisely stated。 In fact； sir； I like to know just where I am。〃
〃That's just about right；〃 assented Ri。
〃I vould perhaps vish to marry her。〃
〃Perhaps！〃 exclaimed the two together。
Again the Count adroitly interposed
〃You mean that you do not intend to thrust your attentions upon an unwilling lady？〃
〃Yes； yes； zat is vat I mean。〃
〃I see；〃 said Mr。 Maddison slowly。 〃H'm； yes。〃
〃Sounds what you Scotch call 'canny；' 〃 commented Ri shrewdly。
〃Well；〃 resumed the millionaire； 〃I have nothing to say against that； providedprovided； I say； that you stipulate to marry the lady so long as she has no objections to you。 No fooling aroundthat's all we want to see to。 Our time； sir； is too valuable。〃
〃That is so；〃 said Ri。
The Baron's color rose； and a look of displeasure came into his eyes； but before he had time to make a retort that might have wrecked his original's hopes； Bunker said quickly
〃Tulliwuddle places himself in your hands； with the implicit confidence that one gentleman reposes in another。〃
Gulping down his annoyance； the Baron assented
〃Yes； I vill do zat。〃
Again father and son looked at one another； and this time exchanged a nod。
〃That； sir； will satisfy us；〃 said Mr。 Maddison。 〃Ri； you may turn off the phonograph。〃
And thereupon the cessation of a loud buzzing sound； which the visitors had hitherto attributed to flies； showed that their host now considered he had received a sufficient guarantee of his lordship's honorable intentions。
〃So far； so good；〃 resumed Mr。 Maddison。 〃I may now inform you； Lord Tulliwuddle； that the reports about you which I have been able to gather read kind of mixed； and before consenting to your reception within my daughter's boudoir we should feel obliged if you would satisfy us that the worst of them are not trueor； at least； sir； exaggerated。〃
This time the Baron could not restrain an exclamation of displeasure。
〃Vat； sir！〃 he cried； addressing the millionaire。 〃Do you examine me on my life！〃
〃No； sir；〃 said Ri； frowning his most determined frown。 〃It is to ME you will be kind enough to give any explanation you have to offer！ Dad may be the spokesman； but I am the inspirer of these interrogations。 My sister； sir； the purest girl in America； the most beautiful creature beneath the star…spangled banner of Columbia； is not going to be the companion of dissolute idleness and gilded dishonornot； sir； if _I_ know it。〃
Too confounded by this unusual warning to think of any adequate retort； the Baron could only stare his sensations； while Mr。 Maddison； taking up the conversation the instant his son had ceased； proceeded in a deliberate and impressive voice to say
〃Yes； sir； my sonand I associate myself with him my son and I； sir； would be happy to learn that it is NOT the case as here stated〃 （he glanced at a paper in his hand）； 〃namely； Item 1； that you sup rather too frequently with ladiesI beg your pardon； Count Bunker； for introducing the themewith ladies of the theatrical profession。〃
〃I！〃 gasped the Baron。 〃I do only vish I sometimes had ze cha〃
〃Tulliwuddle！〃 interrupted the Count。 〃Don't let your natural indignation carry you away！ Mr。 Maddison； that statement is not true。 I can vouch for it。〃
〃Ach； of course it is not true；〃 said the Baron more calmly； as he began to realize that it was not his own character that was being aspersed。
〃I am very glad to hear it；〃 continued Mr。 Maddison； who apparently did not share the full austerity of his son's views； since without further question he hurried on to the next point。
〃Item 2； sir； states that at least two West End firms are threatening you with proceedings if you do not discharge their accounts within a reasonable time。〃
〃A lie！〃 declared the Baron emphatically。
〃Will you be so kind as to favor us with the name of the individual who is thus libelling his lordship？〃 demanded the Count with a serious air。
Mr。 Maddison hastily put the paper back in his pocket； and with a glance checked his son's gesture of protest。
〃Guess we'd better pass on to the next thing； Ri。 I told you it wasn't any darned use just asking。 But you boys always think you know better than your Poppas；〃 said he； and then； turning to the Count； 〃It isn't worth while troubling； Count； I'll see that these reports get contradicted； if I have to buy up a daily paper and issue it at a halfpenny。 Yes； sir； you can leave it to me。〃
The Count glanced at his friend； and they exchanged a grave look。
〃Again we place ourselves in your hands；〃 said Bunker。
Though considerably impressed with these repeated evidences of confidence on the part of two such important personages； their host nevertheless maintained something of his inquisitorial air as he proceeded
〃For my own satisfaction； Lord Tulliwuddle； and meaning to convey no aspersion whatsoever upon your character； I w