"I will accept it. How will it do for me to dub you Sir Scott Walton?"
"It might embarrass me in my business."
"True. Then you shall be plain Mr. Walton. Mind that you get a handsome suit. It will be expected, as you belong to my party."
One of the leading New York dailies, a few days later, in describing the dinner, after giving the earl's modest little speech, continued thus: "The earl was accompanied by a handsome young gentleman, Mr. Scott Walton, who is understood to be a near relative. Mr. Walton was called upon for a speech, but modestly declined."
When Ezra Little read this paragraph, he was immensely surprised.
"Read that, Loammi," he said.
"What a humbug that boy is!" said Loammi, much disgusted.
"Humbug or not, he has got into the best society and his success reflects credit upon us, his cousins."
"The idea of his palming himself off as a relative of the earl!"
"Perhaps he didn't. It was probably a conjecture of the reporter."