"No matter. Greatness is thrust upon you. Try to persuade yourself that you are the great Scottish Unknown."
"Never heard of him. What has he done?"
"He has written romances."
"Pshaw! I hate your scribblers. For heaven's sake, don't say I am an author."
"Unfortunately I have said so already. For your own sake, beware of contradicting me. It is most unfortunate that you forgot your passport. If Prince Hector of Rauchpfeifenheim learns that you are at Miffelstein, you are no safer here than in his capital."
"Curse my luck," growled the Englishman between his teeth, "and confound all smiths and boiler-makers! Had I but remained in Old England! There, if a boiler does burst, money and a letter in the paper will make all right. But the Continent is worse than a slave-market. No habeas corpus here! A foreigner is no better than an outlaw, and if an accident occurs, he has no bail but leg-bail."
"It is certainly very wrong of the prince to be angry at such a trifle. You were only within a hair's breadth of drowning him and his whole court. However, it is for you to choose whether or not I shall say who you really are."
"Not! certainly not! To get out of this scrape, I would consent to pass for a Yankee. By all means let me be your Unknown friend."
"You shall," said Alexis, laughing; "but on one condition. You must assist me to bring about the happiness of two deserving persons."
"Cost any money?" inquired the stranger suspiciously.