"I don't believe it. I feel sure Scott put him up to it. I'd like to tell him it is all a mistake."
"I won't allow you to do anything of the sort. As the matter stands, it may lead to the supposition that we also are related to the earl."
This seemed such a clever idea that Ezra determined to act upon it.
When one of his business acquaintances inquired whether Scott was really a connection of the earl's, he answered: "He is related to me, and there may also be a distant relationship to the earl. Probably the earl authorized the statement."
"Why don't you invite the earl to dinner?"
"Egad, I will!" exclaimed the merchant.
The next day Scott received the following note from Mr. Little:
"Dear Scott: Can you induce your friend, the earl, to accept an invitation to dinner at our house any day next week? It would give me great pleasure, as an Englishman born, to pay some attention to so distinguished a representative of my native country. The choice of the day rests entirely with the earl. We shall be only too glad to receive him at any time.
"Sincerely, your cousin, Ezra Little."