‘MY DEAR MR M‘DUM—My friend Mr Checkstone has seen in the paper that a secretary is wanted at Balquhalloch. He is a young man of means, family, good education, and address; he is, moreover, a sociable companion; and you may in all matters rely upon his discretion. I therefore highly recommend him to you. I take advantage of his journey to Scotland to send to you half-a-dozen boxes of very prime cigars; and remain yours very faithfully, GEORGE FEGAN.’ ‘And here are the cigars,’ added Tom, pointing to a package which he had brought in with him. Cigars were Mr M‘Dum’s second weakness. His first was good whisky. In a moment his demeanour, which up to that point had been by no means friendly, altered. ‘Good!’ he exclaimed. ‘The letter, so far as it goes, is perfectly satisfactory, Mr Checkstone.—Now, let us look at the matter as men of business. The fact is that Miss Stuart—the Princess Henrietta Maria as we call her here—wants a well-educated amanuensis. I manage her estates and her household, but—and I needn’t attempt to disguise it—my education has been neglected. I am not good at letter-writing. Still, I have worked my way gradually up into my present position, and I am not disposed to imperil it. The man who comes here must be my ally. He will be paid four hundred a year, and will keep his place as long as he likes, provided that he gets on well with me. The Princess is not exacting, although she is eccentric. I do not suppose, indeed, that the work will be hard; and as there is plenty of good shooting and fishing down here, the life is very pleasant. I may tell you that Mr Fegan has already telegraphed to me announcing your visit, and that I am upon the whole prepared to engage you.’ ‘You are very good,’ returned Tom, who, however, did not add that he knew the telegram in question had been sent, and that he was perfectly aware of its contents. The words were: ‘I send down Checkstone for secretary. Easy to manage. Perfectly innocent and harmless.’ Nor did Tom explain that he, and not Fegan, was the real donor of the cigars. ‘Oh, it is merely a matter of business,’ rejoined M‘Dum. ‘I fancy that we should get on together. But, since if you obtain the post you will obtain it through my good offices, and since I naturally desire to have some guarantee that the Princess’s confidence in you will not be misplaced, you must excuse my asking whether you are prepared to—well—to make some small—what shall we say—some small deposit, some trifling payment as a security, you know?’ ‘Nothing could be more reasonable, Mr M‘Dum,’ said Tom. ‘I imagine,’ continued the Steward, who was much encouraged by Tom’s words, ‘that a premium, say, of two years’ salary would not, under the circumstances, be excessive; for the post would practically be a permanency. Two years’ salary would be eight hundred pounds.’