affair last year and checkmated me. He carries his wares to the best
buyers--Berlin and St. Petersburg. So there's a woman, is there? I've
found that there usually is!"

"There's a very charming young American girl, to be more exact."

The old man growled and eyed Armitage sharply, while Armitage studied the
photograph.

"I hope you are not meditating a preposterous marriage. Go back where you
belong, make a proper marriage and wait--"

"Events!" and John Armitage laughed. "I tell you, sir, that waiting is
not my _forte_. That's what I like about America; they're up and at it
over there; the man who waits is lost."

"They're a lot of swine!" rumbled Von Stroebel's heavy bass.

"I still owe allegiance to the Schomburg crown, so don't imagine you are
hitting me. But the swine are industrious and energetic. Who knows but
that John Armitage might become famous among them--in politics, in
finance! But for the deplorable accident of foreign birth he might become
president of the United States. As it is, there are thousands of other
offices worth getting--why not?"

"I tell you not to be a fool. You are young and--fairly clever--"

Armitage laughed at the reluctance of the count's praise.

"Thank you, with all my heart!"