and a gleam of hope, Essington impressive
and cool.

"I take it," he began, "that if Mr. Darius P.
Maddison and his coveted daughter could see a little
of Lord Tulliwuddle--meet him at lunch, talk to
him afterwards, for instance--and carry away a
favorable impression of the nobleman, there would not
be much difficulty in subsequently arranging a marriage?"

"Oh, none," said Tulliwuddle. "They'd be only too
keen, IF they approved of me; but that's the rub, you
know."

"So far so good. Now it appears to me that our
modest friend here somewhat underrates his own powers
of fascination"

"Ach, Tollyvoddle, you do indeed," interjected the
Baron.

"But since this idea is so firmly established in his
mind that it may actually prevent him from displaying
himself to the greatest advantage, and since he has
been good enough to declare that he would regard with
complete confidence my own chances of success were I in
his place, I would propose--with all becoming diffidence--
that _I_ should interview the lady and her parent
instead of him."