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〃Yes； she has rather an uncompromising nose； so far as I remember。〃
〃It is a kind nose to her friends； Bonker；〃 the Baron explained； 〃but severe towards〃
〃Myself； for instance；〃 laughed Essington。 〃Well； what do you suggest？〃
〃First； zat you dine mit me to…night。 No； I vill take no refusal！ Listen！ I am now meeting a distinguished person on important international businessdo you pairceive？ Ha； ha； ha！ To…night it vill be necessary ve most dine togezzer。 I have an engagement； but he can be put off for soch a great person as the man I am now meeting at ze club！ You vill gom？〃
〃I should have been delightedonly unluckily I have a man dining with me。 I tell you what！ You come and join us！ Will you？〃
〃If zat is ze only vayyes； mit pleasure！ Who is ze man？〃
〃Young Tulliwuddle。 Do you remember going to a dance at Lord Tulliwuddle's； some five and a half years ago？〃
〃Himmel！ Ha； ha！ Vell do I remember！〃
〃Well； our host of that evening died the other day； and this fellow is his heira second or third cousin whose existence was so displeasing to the old peer that he left him absolutely nothing that wasn't entailed； and never said 'How…do…you…do？' to him in his life。 In consequence； he may not entertain you as much as I should like。〃
〃If he is your friend； I shall moch enjoy his society！〃
〃I am flattered； but hardly convinced。 Tulliwuddle's intellect is scarcely of the sparkling kind。 However； come and try。〃
The hour； the place； were arranged； a reminiscence or two exchanged； fresh suggestions thrown out for the rejuvenation of a Bavarian magnate； another baronial laugh shook the foundations of the club； and then； as the afternoon was wearing on； the Baron hailed a cab and galloped for Belgrave Square； and the late Mr。 Bunker sauntered off along Pall Mall。
〃Who can despair of human nature while the Baron von Blitzenberg adorns the earth？〃 he reflected。 〃The discovery of champagne and the invention of summer holidays were minor events compared with his descent from Olympus！〃
He bought a button…hole at the street corner and cocked his hat； more airily than ever。
〃A volcanic eruption may inspire one to succor humanity； a wedding to condole with it； and a general election to warn it of its folly； but the Baron inspires one to amuse！〃
Meanwhile that Heaven…sent nobleman； with a manner enshrouded in mystery； was comforting his wife。
〃Ah； do not grieve； mine Alicia！ No doubt ze Duke vill be disappointed not to see us to…night； but I have telegraphed。 Ja； I have said I had so important an affair。 Ach； do not veep！ I did not know you wanted so moch to dine mit ze old Duke。 I sopposed you vould like a quiet evening at home。 But anyhow I have now telegraphedand my leetle dinner mit my friendAch； it is so important zat I most rosh and get dressed。 Cheer up； my loff！ Good…by！〃
He paused in answer to a tearful question。
〃His name？ Alas； I have promised not to say。 You vould not have a European war by my indiscretion？〃
CHAPTER III
With mirrors reflecting a myriad lights； with the hum of voices； the rustle of satin and lace； the hurrying steps of waiters； the bubbling of laughter； of life； and of wineall these on each side of them； and a plate； a foaming glass； and a friend in front； the Baron and his host smiled radiantly down upon less favored mortals。
〃Tulliwuddle is very late；〃 said Essington； 〃but he's a devilish casual gentleman in all matters。〃
〃I am selfish enoff to hope he vill not gom at all！〃 exclaimed the Baron。
〃Unfortunately he has had the doubtful taste to conceive a curiously high opinion of myself。 I am afraid he won't desert us。 But I don't propose that we shall suffer for his slackness。 Bring the fish； waiter。〃
The Baron was happy； and that is to say that his laughter re…echoed from the shining mirrors； his tongue was loosed； his heart expanded； his glass seemed ever empty。
〃Ach； how to make zis joie de vivre to last beyond to… night！〃 he cried。 〃May ze Teufel fly off mit of offeecial duties and receptions andand even mit my vife for a few days。〃
〃My dear Baron！〃
〃To Alicia！〃 cried the Baron hastily； draining his glass at the toast。 〃But some fun first！〃
〃 'I could not love thee； dear； so well； Loved I not humor more！' 〃
misquoted his host gaily。 〃Ah！〃 he added； 〃here comes Tulliwuddle。〃
A young man； with his hands in his pockets and an eyeglass in his eye； strolled up to their table。
〃I'm beastly sorry for being so late；〃 said he； 〃but I'm hanged if I could make up my mind whether to risk wearing one of these frilled shirt…fronts。 It's not bad； I think； with one's tie tied this way。 What do you say？〃
〃It suits you like a halo；〃 Essington assured him。 〃But let me introduce you to my friend the Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg。〃
Lord Tulliwuddle bowed politely and took the empty chair； but it was evident that his attention could not concentrate itself upon sublunary matters till the shirt… front had been critically inspected and appreciatively praised by his host。 Indeed； it was quite clear that Essington had not exaggerated his regard for himself。 This admiration was perhaps the most pleasing feature to be noted on a brief acquaintance with his lordship。 He was obviously intended neither for a strong man of action nor a great man of thought。 A tolerable appearance and considerable amiability he might no doubt claim； but unfortunately the effort to retain his eye… glass had apparently the effect of forcing his mouth chronically open； which somewhat marred his appearance； while his natural good…humor lapsed too frequently into the lamentations of an idle man that Providence neglected him or that his creditors were too attentive。
It happens； however； that it is rather his circumstances than his person which concern this history。 And； briefly； these were something in this sort。 Born a poor relation and guided by no strong hand； he had gradually seen himself； as Reverend uncles and Right Honorable cousins died of； approach nearer and nearer to the ancient barony of Tulliwuddle （created 1475 in the peerage of Scotland）； until this year he had actually succeeded to it。 But after his first delight in this piece of good fortune had subsided he began to realize in himself two notable deficiencies very clearly； the lack of money； and more vaguely； the want of any preparation for filling the shoes of a stately courtier and famous Highland chieftain。 He would often； and with considerable feeling； declare that any ordinary peer he could easily have become； but that being old Tulliwuddle's heir； by Gad！ he didn't half like the job。
At present he was being tolerated or befriended by a small circle of acquaintances； and rapidly becoming a familiar figure to three or four tailors and half a dozen door…keepers at the stage entrances to divers Metropolitan theatres。 In the circle of acquaintances； the humorous sagacity of Essington struck him as the most astonishing thing he had ever known。 He felt； in fact； much like a village youth watching his first conjuring performance； and while the whim lasted （a period which Essington put down as probably six weeks） he would have gone the length of paying a bill or ordering a tie on his recommendation alone。
To…night the distinguished appearance and genial conversation of Essington's friend impressed him more than ever with the advantages of knowing so remarkable a personage。 A second bottle succeeded the first； and a third the second； the cordiality of the dinner growing all the while； till at last his lordship had laid aside the last traces of his national suspicion of even the most charming strangers。
〃I say； Essington；〃 he said； 〃I had meant to tell you about a devilish delicate dilemma I'm in。 I want your advice。〃
〃You have it； interrupted his host。 〃Give her a five…pound note； see that she burns your letters； and introduce her to another fellow。〃
〃Buterthat wasn't the thing〃
〃Tell him you'll pay in six months； and order another pair of trousers；〃 said Essington； briskly as ever。
〃But； I say； it wasn't that〃
〃My dear Tulliwuddle； I never give racing tips。〃
〃Hang it！〃
〃What is the matter？〃
Tulliwuddle glanced at the Baron。
〃I don't know whether the Baron would be interested〃
〃Immensely； my goot Tollyvoddle！ Supremely！ hugely！ I could be interested to…night in a museum！〃
〃The Baron's past life makes him a peculiarly catholic judge of indiscretions；〃 said Essington。
Thus reassured； Tulliwuddle began
〃You know I've an aunt who takes an interest in me wants me to collar an heiress and that sort of thing。 Well； she has more or less arranged a marriage for me。〃
〃Fill your glasses； gentlemen！〃 cried Essington。
〃Hoch； hoch！〃 roared the Baron。
〃But； I say； wait a minute！ That's only the beginning。 I don't know the girland she doesn't know me。〃
He said the last words in a peculiarly significant tone。
〃Do you wish me to introduce you？〃
〃Oh； hang it！ Be serious； Essington。 The point iswill she marry me if she does know me？〃
〃Himmel！ Yes； certainly！〃 cried the Baron。
〃Who is she？〃 asked their host； more seriously。
〃Her father is Darius P。 Maddison； the American Silver King。〃
The other