‘Yes; I think that eight hundred pounds would not be excessive,’ said Tom. ‘I am ready to agree to pay that sum.’ ‘That’s good! Then I will introduce you to the Princess.’ And placing his unfinished cigar in an ash-tray upon the table, Mr M‘Dum arose, and led the way through some long and cheerless stone passages into a more pretentious and better furnished part of the huge building. Leaving Tom in a panelled anteroom, he went forward to announce him; and returning, conducted the new secretary into the presence. In a large armchair in a long low drawing-room sat the Princess Henrietta Maria. Tom bowed low as soon as he saw her, and then—acting upon directions which had been supplied to him by Mr Fegan—advanced and respectfully kissed the tips of her outstretched fingers. ‘Mr M‘Dum tells me,’ said the Princess, ‘that you are in all respects competent to act as our private secretary. We particularly need the services of an amanuensis just now, because we are drawing up some memoirs of our family. The documents are here in the castle; but our health does not permit of sufficient progress with the work. Are you prepared to undertake the duties?’ ‘I am, your Royal Highness,’ assented Tom meekly, as he stood before the majestic old lady. ‘That is well. And when can you begin those duties, Mr Checkstone?’ ‘I am at any moment at your Royal Highness’s disposal,’ said Tom. ‘I can even take up my residence here to-day, should your Royal Highness wish it.’ ‘Let it be so, then, Mr Checkstone. Mr M‘Dum shall conduct you to your apartments; and I myself will take an early opportunity of visiting them and of satisfying myself that you will be comfortable.’ The Princess signified that the audience was over; and Tom and the Steward backed out of the room, bowing low as they went. ‘You should not have said that you would come in to-day,’ said M‘Dum, as soon as the door was shut. ‘And besides, how can you do so? Where is your luggage?’ ‘It is at the inn at Aberdumble,’ answered Tom. ‘I thought, under any circumstances, of staying in Scotland for a few weeks; and so I came prepared.’ ‘Humph!’ ejaculated M‘Dum, who was somewhat annoyed at his protégé’s precipitancy.—‘Now, if you don’t mind, we will go back to my little office and complete our business arrangements.’ Ten minutes later, Mr M‘Dum was the richer by a promissory-note for eight hundred pounds, and Tom was formally installed as private secretary to the Princess Henrietta Maria. At the earliest possible moment he sent back the conveyance to Aberdumble, instructing the coachman to forward his luggage to the castle, and intrusting the man with two telegrams, worded in French, one being addressed to George Fegan, and the other to Charles Edward Stuart.