old man some comment that might satisfy his innocent vanity as
father and husband, and perhaps dissipate some doubts that were
haunting him.

"Twelve hundred dollars looks to be a good figger for a dress,
ain't it? But Malviny knows, I reckon, what ought to be worn at
the Tooilleries, and she don't want our Mamie to take a back seat
before them furrin' princesses and gran' dukes. It's a slap-up
affair, I kalkilate. Let's see. I disremember whether it's an
emperor or a king that's rulin' over thar now. It must be suthin'
first class and A 1, for Malviny ain't the woman to throw away
twelve hundred dollars on any of them small-potato despots! She
says Mamie speaks French already like them French Petes. I don't
quite make out what she means here. She met Don Caesar in Paris,
and she says, 'I think Mamie is nearly off with Don Caesar, who has
followed her here. I don't care about her dropping him TOO
suddenly; the reason I'll tell you hereafter. I think the man
might be a dangerous enemy.' Now, what do you make of this? I
allus thought Mamie rather cottoned to him, and it was the old
woman who fought shy, thinkin' Mamie would do better. Now, I am
agreeable that my gal should marry any one she likes, whether it's
a dook or a poor man, as long as he's on the square. I was ready
to take Don Caesar; but now things seem to have shifted round. As
to Don Caesar's being a dangerous enemy if Mamie won't have him,
that's a little too high and mighty for me, and I wonder the old
woman don't make him climb down. What do you think?"

"Who is Don Caesar?" asked Slinn.

"The man what picked you up that day. I mean," continued Mulrady,