"Of Greece, for I was born in Greece. I have fought Turks. Ah! I
have bled for Greece. I have spilt my blood in many lands, but the
best was for my motherland!--Of England, for I became naturalized. By
bloody-hell-and-Waterloo, but I admire the English! They have guts,
those English, and I am one of them! By the great horn spoon, yes, I
became an Englishman at Bow Street one Monday morning, price Five
Pounds. I was lined up with the drunks and pick-pockets, and by Jumbo
the magistrate mistook me for a thief! He would have given me six
months without the option in another minute, but I had the good luck to
remember how much money I had paid my witnesses. The thought of paying
that for nothing--worse than nothing, for six months in jail!--in an
English jail!--pick oakum!--eat skilly!--that thought brought me to my
senses. 'By Gassharamminy,' I said, 'I may be mad, but I'm sober! If
it's a crime to desire to be English, then punish me, but let me first
commit the offense!' So he laughed, and didn't question my witnesses
very carefully--one was a Jew, the other an ex-German, and either of
them would swear to anything at half price for a quantity--and they
kissed the Book and committed perjury--and lo and behold, I was English
as you are--English without troubling a midwife or the parson! Five
pounds for the 'beak' at Bow Street--fifty for the
witnesses--fifty-five all told--and cheap at the price! I had money in
those days. It was after our short war with Turkey. We Greeks got
beaten, but the Turks did not get all the loot! By prison and gallows,
no! When our men ran before a battle, I did not run--not I! I
remained, and by Croesus I grew richer in an hour than I have ever been
since!"

"That's two countries," said I. "Which is the third that has the honor
to claim your allegiance?"