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 "I do so like to be admired," he murmured, "and I've had so little of it."

"Nonsense," whispered the infatuated Nyla. "The League must be frightfully proud of you, going round making people happy."

"Never mind the League," he said. "Let's forget the League for the nonce. In fact, for several nonces. We'll go off and found a republic of our own. We haven't had that voyage on the moat yet."

But the affairs of state are not so easily forgotten. Others were also finding the terrace useful, though perhaps less pleasant. Herr Leutz, escaped from the dance floor to a tilting ground not less perilous, was strolling with the ambassador. From the ambassador came only a mild fragrance of cigar while Herr Leutz's words of woe were audible.

"Von hondred eight million six hondred and sefenty four tousand fife hondred and tventy fife florin," he was saying. "Blus aggrued interests up to now, blus interests for sixty-two year—Ach, Herr Ambassador, you call dat