“The officers of the Aureataland Army have the honor to remind Mr. John Martin that they hope to have the pleasure of his company at supper this evening at ten o’clock precisely.  In the unavoidable absence of his Excellency, the President, owing to the pressing cares of state, and of the Hon. Colonel McGregor from indisposition, the toast of the Army of Aureataland will be proposed by Major Alphonse DeChair.

“P.S.—­Cher Martin, speak long this night.  The two great men do not come, and the evening wants to be filled out. Tout a vous,

“ALPHONSE DECHAIR.”

“It shall be long, my dear boy, and we will fill out your evening for you,” said I to myself, well pleased so far.

Then I opened the signorina’s epistle.

“DEAR MR. MARTIN [it began]:  Will you be so kind as to send me in the course of the day twenty dollars in small change?  I want to give the school children a scramble.  I inclose check.  I am so sorry you could not dine with me to-night, but after all I am glad, because I should have had to put you off, for I am commanded rather sudden to dine at the Golden House.  With kind regards, believe me, yours sincerely,

  “CHRISTINA NUGENT.”

“Very good,” said I.  “I reckon the scramble will keep.  And now for the colonel.”

The colonel’s letter ran thus: 

“DEAR MARTIN:  I inclose check for five hundred dollars.  My man will call for the cash to-morrow morning.  I give you notice because I want it all in silver for wages. [Rather a poverty of invention among us, I thought.] Carr and I are here together, both seedy.  Poor Carr is on his back and likely to remain there for a day or two—­bad attack of champagne.  I’m better, and though I’ve cut the affair at barracks to-night, I fully expect to be up and about this afternoon.

  “Ever yours,

  “GEO. MCGREGOR.”

“Oh! so Carr is on his back and likely to remain there, is he?  Very likely, I expect; but I wonder what it means.  I hope the colonel hasn’t been very drastic.  However, everything seems right; in fact, better than I hoped.”

In this more cheerful frame of mind I arose, breakfasted at leisure, and set out for the bank about eleven.

Of course, the first person I met in the street was one of the last I wanted to meet, namely, Donna Antonia.  She was on horseback, and her horse looked as if he’d done some work.  At the sight of me she reined up, and I could not avoid stopping as I lifted my hat.

“Whence so early?” I asked.

“Early?” she said.  “I don’t call this early.  I’ve been for a long ride; in fact, I’ve ridden over to Mr. Carr’s place, with a message from papa; but he’s not there.  Do you know where he is, Mr. Martin?”

“Haven’t an idea,” said I.

“He hasn’t been home for four nights,” she continued, “and he hasn’t been to the Ministry either.  It’s very odd that he should disappear like this, just when all the business is going on, too.”