"And now we shall see--" began the young American.

"We shall see Johann Wilhelm die of old age within a few years at most;
and then Charles Louis, his son, will be the Emperor-king in his place;
and if he should go hence without heirs, his cousin Francis would rule in
the house of his fathers; and Francis is corrupt and worthless, and quite
necessary to the plans of destiny for the divine order of kings."

John Armitage stood beside the carriage quite erect, his hat and stick
and gloves in his right hand, his left thrust lightly into the side
pocket of his coat.

"A queer devil," observed Claiborne, as they drove away. "A solemn
customer, and not cheerful enough to make a good drummer. By what
singular chance did he find you in that shop?"

"I found _him_, dearest brother, if I must make the humiliating
disclosure."

"I shouldn't have believed it! I hardly thought you would carry it so
far."

"And while he may be a salesman of imitation cut-glass, he has expensive
tastes."

"Lord help us, he hasn't been buying you a watch?"

"No; he was lavishing himself on a watch for the foreman of his ranch in
Montana."