him to see me. But I prefer to wait; I wish to see. With these great
fortunes that come from so far away one has to be careful. _Mon Dieu_! I
do not say that if I should meet him elsewhere than in my own house, at
the theatre, in a drawing-room----"

"As it just happens, Mrs. Jenkins is proposing to give a small party
next month. If you would do us the honour----"

"I shall be glad to come, my dear doctor, and if your Nabob should
chance to be there I should make no objection to his being presented to
me."

At this moment the usher on duty opened the door.

"Monsieur the Minister of the Interior is in the blue salon. He has only
one word to say to his excellency. Monsieur the Prefect of Police is
still waiting downstairs, in the gallery."

"Very well," said the duke, "I am coming. But I should like first to
finish the matter of this costume. Let us see--friend, what's your
name--what are we deciding upon for these ruffs? Au revoir, doctor.
There is nothing to be done, is there, except to continue the pills?"

"Continue the pills," said Jenkins, bowing; and he left the room beaming
with delight at the two pieces of good fortune which were befalling him
at the same time--the honour of entertaining the duke and the pleasure
of obliging his dear Nabob. In the antechamber, the crowd of petitioners
through which he passed was still more numerous than at his entry;
newcomers had joined those who had been patiently waiting from the
first, others were mounting the staircase, with busy look and very pale,