“Pooh, pooh! Tuts, tuts!” exclaimed the Baron. “I vill make zat all right; never do you fear. Eva, she does smile on me already. Eleanor, she vill also ven I see her. Leave it to me.”

“You won't go to-day?”

“To-morrow, Bonker, I swear I vill for certain!”

Bonker pondered.

“Hang it!” he exclaimed. “The worst of it is, I've pledged myself to go upon a visit.”

The Baron listened to the tale of his incipient romance with the greatest relish.

“Bot go, my friend! Bot go!” he cried, “and zen come back here to-morrow and ve vill leave togezzer.”

“Leave you alone, with the barometer falling and the storm-cone hoisted? I don't like to, Baron.”

“Bot to leave zat leetle girl—eh, Bonker? How is zat?”

“Was ever a man so torn between two duties!” exclaimed the conscientious Count.