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 Herr Quackenbush was a little taken aback at this injection of politics into a sentimental scene. He paused an instant. The Colonel improved the moment with a sigh, expressive of bodily weakness and perils encountered. He wrung a small cascade of drippings from his dismal finery.

"By God sir, I promise."

"Goot!" said the Colonel calmly. "Remember de terms of de promise, vatefer happen. Ve half witnesses here. Besides, a gompact made among gentlemen in deir nightshirts must be specially sacred. Now I tink I go change."

He kissed Nyla's hand with a gallant air and went trickling across the terrace.

"Mr. President," said Herr Quackenbush, "if you sent that man to Washington as your minister you'd have the United States paying you the debt in six months."