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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 205

And sure enough Walter had hurried from his city office and driven straight to Gower-street

" Thought I would like to come," he said, " was bothered .about Forsyth ; has he turned up ? "

" Oh, yes," said Jenny, " came to bring us here, was full of apologies. I talked to him like a sister."

" And he replied like a brother," rejoined Walter, in his comedy-dialogue fashion.

" He did," said Jenny.

" And all is well, eh ? "

"Yes."

" That's right. Where is he ? "

" Talking to the Baron Von Something, who has just arrived from Berlin."

" The Berlin-gloved old gentleman with the collars and the glasses ? "

"Yes."

" I see. He must come to dinner, and we will settle the Italian business : I would like you to be ready by Monday."

"We are ready now," said Mrs. Jenny, "have been ready this three weeks."

" Of course, of course," said Walter, " but Philip wasn't ready ; he's ready now, eh ? "

" Oh, yes, quite," said Dolly.

" Very well, then ; we'll be off at once."

" Not this minute?"

" No, next week. Oh, yonder is Selwyn ; must speak to him ; he has made a fortune since we saw him last yesterday, in fact. But here is Philip. Ah, Forsyth, my dear fellow, glad to see you ; how well you look ! Will you dine with us to-night enfamilU a very real phrase to you now at Westbury Lodge and go over our Italian route, eh ? We propose to start on Monday ; .we shall be in time for the royal function we were talking of the other