’He prefers to meet you at Bulsted.  Captain Bulsted offers his house for the purpose.  I have to warn you, sir, that we stand in a very exceptional position.  The squire insists upon having a full account of the money rendered to him.’

’I invite him to London, Richie.  I refer him to Dettermain and Newson.  I request him to compute the value of a princess.’

‘You are aware that he will not come to your invitation.’

’Tell me, then, how is he to understand what I have established by the expenditure, my son?  I refer him to Dettermain and Newson.’

’But you must know that he sets his face against legal proceedings involving exposure.’

’But surely, Richie, exposure is the very thing we court.  The innocent, the unjustly treated, court it.  We would be talked about; you shall hear of us!  And into the bargain an hereditary princess.  Upon my faith, Mr. Beltham, I think you have mighty little to complain of.’

My temper was beginning to chafe at the curb.  ’As regards any feeling about the money, personally, sir, you know I have none.  But I must speak of one thing.  I have heard to-night, I confess with as much astonishment as grief, the name . . .  I could not have guessed that I should hear the princess’s name associated with mine, and quite openly.’

‘As a matter of course.’  He nodded, and struck out a hand in wavy motion.

’Well, sir, if you can’t feel for her or her family, be good enough to think of me, and remember that I object to it.’

‘For you all,’ said he, buoyantly; ’I feel for you all, and I will act for you all.  I bring the princess to your arms, my dear boy.  You have written me word that the squire gives her a royal dowry—­have you not?  My combinations permit of no escape to any one of you.  Nay, ’tis done.  I think for you—­I feel for you—­I act for you.  By heaven, you shall be happy!  Sigh, Richie, sigh; your destiny is now entrusted to me!’

’I daresay I’m wasting my breath, sir, but I protest against false pretences.  You know well that you have made use of the princess’s name for your own purposes.’

’Most indubitably, Richie, I have; and are they not yours?  I must have social authority to succeed in our main enterprise.  Possibly the princess’s name serves for a temporary chandelier to cast light on us.  She belongs to us.  For her sake, we are bringing the house she enters into order.  Thus, Richie, I could tell Mr. Beltham:  you and he supply the money, the princess the name, and I the energy, the skilfulness, and the estimable cause.  I pay the princess for the use of her name with the dowry, which is royal; I pay you with the princess, who is royal too; and I, Richie, am paid by your happiness most royally.  Together, it is past contest that we win.—­Here, my little one,’ he said to a woman, and dropped a piece of gold into her hand, ’on condition that you go straight home.’  The woman thanked him and promised.  ’As