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your putting it on this ground. In fact, if my memory serves me, you put it purely on the ground of national interest and expenditure, and I felt rather shocked."

"Well," retorted Clamberalong, "I could not put it on the oppressed fellow-creature ground, because it is the oppressed fellowcreature we are abandoning in that case. The fact is, that Noduffer had no business to play such a trick upon the great Radical party as to invent liberal institutions, and introduce a system of reform into Ethiopia, involving a permanent military occupation. It puts us all in a false position."

"I don't regard it in that light at all," responded his chief. "I never felt in a less false position in my life. I feel convinced the country likes it; and it is the sentiment of the country at large that I have to consider, and not the opinions and theories of what you call the great Radical party."

"If we continue on this course much longer," rejoined Mr Clamberalong, rather hotly, "allow me to remark that you will soon have to choose between the great Radical party and what you call country.' Just look at the mess we have got into with the Infidel Relief Bill, through not being consistent."

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"On the contrary; it was because we tried to be consistent that we incurred this disaster. There, if you like, I feel myself in a false position; but that arises from a somewhat improper, I might almost say immoral, effort, which we made to achieve consistency. So long, my dear Clamberalong, as you fail to perceive the infinite variety of political and moral per

meations of which every question is susceptible, and continue, as you so constantly do, to grovel in the concrete, when you might rise to the abstract-so long as you attempt in politics what no man has ever succeeded in doing in religion, to reconcile profession with practice, so long will you continue to be the victim of disappointment and delusion. Mark my words," and here Mr Sadstone's voice acquired a portentous and prophetic solemnity,— "the day will come when you will find that even the caucus is but a broken reed; but," he added, more cheerfully, "I think it will last my time."

"Then may you long be spared to us," said Mr Clamberalong, fervently; and I felt quite relieved at this amicable termination to a discussion which at one moment threatened to produce a rupture which might have led to serious consequences. I had gathered enough, however, to make me feel somewhat uneasy in regard to the unity of sentiment which pervaded the Albinian Cabinet; and I trust that this little exposure of its weakness will not be deemed an indiscretion on my part, but may serve rather as a warning at a period of general political disturbance, which, it is evident, is in the highest degree critical, not only in Albinia, but in all those several countries which have been caught in the great Ethiopian trap, and to which, through telephonic agency, I have had access. If, in spite of these revelations, statesmen and potentates continue wilfully blind, it will ever be a consolation to me to feel that I am free from all responsibility in the matter.

THE MILLIONAIRE.-PART IV.

CHAPTER XIII.-THE MINE PREPARED.

MRS TILTOFF was not the woman to let the grass grow beneath her feet when she was pursuing any object which had thoroughly aroused her interest. She knew perfectly well that in this, as in every other matter of importance which had arisen since her marriage, she would have to depend entirely upon her own resources and energies. There are some men who leave all the business of life to be managed by their wives; and, in fortunate cases, the result justifies them in so doing, for they get it uncommonly well done. It must be confessed that if Captain Tiltoff had made up his mind from the outset to be guided entirely by his wife in all his affairs, he would have acted wisely; but so far as the management of money was concerned, he unfortunately preferred to consult his own judgment. As there happened to be no such thing as judgment in the equipment with which he had started in life, and as he had never acquired any on the way, the result would not have been encouraging to any man who was in the habit of coolly and impartially reviewing his own acts. But the gallant captain had no such habit. His conviction that he was invariably right, and had done everything for the best, was never shaken, and it saved him from being troubled with anything resembling a visitation of remorse. The man or woman who possesses such a temperament is triply armed against most of the mortifications and regrets which fall upon the rest of us, but it is not a prudent thing to take either one or the other into partnership.

Mrs Tiltoff had found this out, at considerable inconvenience and cost to herself; but she had made up her mind to bear with her lot, which was a sensible thing to do, seeing that no alteration for the better in it seemed probable. She now related to her husband the general purport of her conversation with Baron Phlog, omitting certain details which she did not consider it material that he should know. The captain listened to her story with rather more attention than he generally paid to her communications; and he admitted that it was in all respects much to be desired that the excellent intentions which Margrave the elder had once entertained should still be carried out.

"You wasted a good deal of attention upon him, Beatrice," said the captain, who was not over-refined in his thoughts or expressions; "I almost thought at one time that he was in love with you. After all, you know, he was not such a very old man.

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"Old or young, he did not admire your mode of life. You ruined your own chances with him.”

"You mean by contradicting him a little too often."

"No; by taking the trouble to let him know that, no matter how much money came into your hands, you were determined to gamble it all away."

"Ah! I could not help those reports reaching his ears. Besides, it was on your behaviour that the stake depended, not on mine."

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Well, we lost the stake, as you call it, and now it is just possible we may win it again. If Baron

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Decidedly it was the most pleasant prospect which had opened itself to the expectant eyes of the worthy captain for some months past. Instantly it occurred to his mind that there were several little plans which he would be able to carry out with the suggested alteration in his circumstances, in some of which his wife would not necessarily be called upon to take a part.

"I shall be sorry for Margrave and his daughter," said he, "although they have not been over civil to us. I believe he was poor when he returned to England, and no one could be expected to save much out of the Grange property. What would they do if they were turned out!"

"Is that our business? Do you not think it quite hard enough to manage our own affairs? I have found it so, and so perhaps would you, if you had paid more attention

to them."

"I know when I am well off, Beatrice. Other fellows make their lives miserable by worrying over their homes, and how to keep them going. I never bother my head about such matters they are a woman's business."

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"I wish you had made woman's business when we had some means to boast of. At any rate, if we ever get another start, I hope you will keep to your present theory."

"Yes, you shall have the cheque book," said the captain, with a coarse laugh, "and I will go upon an allowance. Will that suit you? Now I must say good morning, or I shall be late for the shop." He stooped down to kiss her, and she turned her cheek to him, and the captain sallied forth to his arduous duties in Pall Mall.

VOL. CXXXIV.-NO. DCCCXIII.

His wife's brain was busy with all sorts of projects, but although much might be thought of, nothing of moment could be done until the news arrived for which she waited so impatiently. If it were good, she would open her campaign without delay; if bad but at this thought she found her fortitude slipping away from her. She had been patient and strong when no hope for the better appeared in the vista of the future; but to be doomed now to a continuance of the old dreary life would be a fate too hard to be borne. She did not realise till that moment how great a strain she had passed through during the last few years.

It was nearly a month after Baron Phlog had disclosed what

was

known to him concerning Richard Margrave's history before he returned to the little house in Mayfair, with a letter which he had received from his friend Count Schomberg, who was still, much against his inclination, an exile at Washington. There was nothing for him to do there, for his Government had fortunately never had a difference of any kind with the Americans; perhaps because the two nations did not speak the same language," and were not connected by "ties of blood."

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where to the West, and about two years after the marriage he returned-without his wife. What became of her I have been unable to find out. As for her parents, Senator Blower is quite convinced they were Americans, and that Mrs Margrave herself was born in New York. He mentioned rather mysteriously the name of the celebrated Dexter File as an authority on that point. Blower is supposed to have a good understanding with File, especially on all legislative matters in which File is interested. I followed up his hint, therefore, but Mr Dexter File would tell us nothing. At last, however, I hit upon the traces of the minister who married Margrave-an Episcopalian, now settled in Albany. From him I obtained a copy of the marriage certificate, and you will find it enclosed. You will see that the woman is described as an American citizen, the man as an English subject. There is no doubt as to the genuineness of this document. I thought it would probably be sufficient for you; but if it is not, we must try again to get at Mr Dexter File, although I fear it would be a waste of time. But we will do our best."

"There is no doubt," said the Baron, as he folded up the letter, "that, as my good friend says, this will be quite sufficient for your purpose, at least for the present. It will enable you to make your first move. Depend upon it, you will be able to prove that Mr Margrave married an American, if that is all you require."

"You do not know how happy you have made me," said Mrs Tiltoff, holding out her hand. Baron

Phlog pressed it gently, and sat down by her side. "If there had always been some one like you to advise me, how much misery I should have escaped."

"If I can but help you now,” he replied softly, "I must be content. It is as much good fortune as I dare to hope for."

"I suppose I had better go at once and see the lawyer?"

"Decidedly. Why lose any time? You have a lawyer whom you can trust?"

"My husband has always gone to Mr Stodgers-you have heard of him?"

"Oh yes; everybody is familiar with that name. You will be in safe hands, if he is faithful to you - and that no one could help being."

The name of Abraham Stodgers was, indeed, a well known one: no man in his profession was held in greater fear, for no man was acquainted with so many personal and family secrets. A letter signed by him was often quite sufficient to put a stop to a threatened action, or to induce an obstinate and troublesome claimant to "come down," like the famous coon, without waiting to be shot at. There had been a time when the firm of which Stodgers was the head had found its chief source of profit in defending interesting clients who were accused-falsely, no doubt— of mistaking other people's property for their own. It was not a distinguished circle of clients, but it paid well. Of late years the firm had soared into higher, and perhaps purer, regions, and the name of Stodgers was as much esteemed in the fashionable world as formerly it had been in Field Lane and Saffron Hill. The solicitor could at least boast that he saved more cases than he lost; and, after all, a fashionable physician does no more, and very frequently he cannot do as much.

Mrs Tiltoff went herself to see Mr Stodgers, for she knew how little would be gained by sending

her husband, or even by taking him with her. In the one case, he would have confused and bungled the whole business; in the other, he would have been in the way. Hence she preferred to go alone, though as she went she could not but dwell upon the thought which had already found partial expression that day-that is, how great an advantage it would have been to her if she had chanced to have had at this crisis in her life the help of so ready, prompt, and cool an adviser as Baron Phlog. He invariably smoothed away all difficulties. In talking with him, there was never any necessity to lose time in explaining one's meaning. He saw it at once; whereas the genius of the War Office was slow of comprehension, and generally managed to get hold of every question submitted to him upside down. After one had been talking to him for some little time, it was usually discovered that he had somehow or other managed to misunderstand every word that had been said; nor was he in the least degree disconcerted when this was pointed out to him. He was merely satisfied that his own way of looking at the matter was the best.

Mr Stodgers received his client with the politeness which he invariably displayed to young and pretty women. There were seven or eight clients fidgeting about on the anxious seat in the next room, but none of them were so attractive as Mrs Tiltoff, nor were they at all connected with the social world in which Mr Stodgers now moved. Therefore he had no hesitation in keeping them waiting, especially as they were not likely to run away. Mr Stodgers was well aware that he could do with out them far better than they could do without him.

He heard the story through with

quiet attention, and saw at a glance all that there was in it to be seen.

Then he asked for the marriage certificate, and looked at that. Then he inquired for his client's husband, who, it has been intimated was an old acquaintance; in fact, many things were known to Mr Stodgers about him which would have exceedingly surprised Mrs Tiltoff, little as she thought there was left for her to learn. Lastly, the lawyer mentioned the interesting fact that he had dined the night before with the Duke of Dartford, who had been exceedingly amusing, and who had even promised to pay Mr Stodgers a visit during the summer at his little place on the Thames.

"And what do you advise me to do?" asked Mrs Tiltoff at length, not so much interested in the Duke of Dartford as Mr Stodgers was.

"I advise you to do nothing," replied the lawyer, resuming his business-like manner. "I will write a note in a day or two to Mr Margrave's lawyer, whose name is Morgan. A clever fellow, but I do not think he will be able to make very much out of this case. The fact is, I knew something of all these circumstances before you came here to-day. I never express an opinion as to the issue of a contest of this kind; but this I will say-I would rather be on your side than on the other. Leave it all to me, and I will do the best I can. Does the captain know of this?"

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