“Does he mean me, the rascal?” growled Camperdown.
Stargarde, suppressing a smile, laid a finger on his arm, and MacDaly in high glee that he had begun to attract the attention of the people in the room, hitched his desk a little nearer to the fire and continued rapidly. “This is firmly believed on account of his many times talking aloud incoherently to himself, and showing a triumph by swaying his hand with great violence as he walks along in company with some unsightly sprite or other in commune with him. Shame, shame, I say, as all do say, upon him who would foully and peevishly urge wrong from his rancoured breast to falsely gratify his own appetite and earthly wicked desires by such assiduous passions.”
“Oh, oh,” groaned Dr. Camperdown; “said the pot to the kettle, thou art blacker than I.”
“Such a being,” pursued MacDaly with uplifted voice, “cannot expect much else than to meet a bad end. Yea, melt like butter before the sun. Only picture the awful end of such a man and in comparison with the terrific state of Turkey, where there is to come an overpowering smashup and the dethroning of the sultan. How will this country be governed? I prophesy that on account of the graceful form, figure, and noble bearing of Lady Stargarde Turner,” he felt himself now far enough in the favor of his awakened audience to disregard the command about proper names, “her chances are many of being made sultana.”
The habitués of the kitchen highly approving of the honor proposed for their patroness interrupted MacDaly by such a clapping of hands that he paused for an instant to mop his gratified face.
“Anticipating her ruling such a barbarous, uncouthed people with a steady rod,” he hurried on, “and reducing the price of raisins and figs, I would cast a prophetic glance into that future and prophesy again that Mr. Stanton Armour——”
Armour withdrew his eyes from the fire and cast a haughty glance at the speaker, which was totally disregarded.
“Will be prime minister,” continued[continued] MacDaly. “And Dr. Brian Camperdown,” he pronounced the words with a mischievous relish and a gasping emphasis, “will be chosen by the sultana as her sultan.”
Deafening and violent applause broke out, for the news of Stargarde’s engagement to Dr. Camperdown had spread through the city with almost incredible rapidity.
Blushing slightly she noted the grim, contented pride displayed on Camperdown’s face, then listened to MacDaly, who was hastening on.