“Most fortunately, if you will allow me to correct you, Hicks declines to be ignored in such an unceremonious fashion. I suppose you imply that if he had occurred to your memory you would have tried to square him? You ought to know by this time that there is no one on earth so incorruptible as the newspaper man who has a big sensation in charge. The wealth of India would not move him, if the condition of receiving it was the suppression of his ‘copy.’ And what a fine story he could have made out of your eager attempts (instigated, without a doubt, by myself) to bribe him not to publish the true facts of the case! The issue would have been simple ruin for both of us. Not that that is the worst of it. Since when, Mr Stratford, have you imagined me capable of trading upon another man’s reputation?” “Honestly, Sir Dugald, our only idea was to preserve for you the credit which we know you deserve, but which Hicks and the world are determined to award to the wrong man.” “My dear Stratford, I have no doubt as to the entire excellence of your intentions, although I can’t congratulate you on the steps you took to carry them out. I cannot be too thankful that your Quixotic scheme has failed. Leaving out of sight all the other considerations, I have still a little pride left, and I can’t stand being indebted, even to my friends, for a reputation which doesn’t belong to me. I have had my day, and I am quite ready to walk off and leave the stage to the younger men.” “Ah, Sir Dugald,” said Stratford, earnestly, “none of the younger men can hope to do what you have done.” “Stuff!” said Sir Dugald, but he could not help allowing a gleam of pleasure to be seen. “You have all done your duty under very trying circumstances, and I am proud of you, gentlemen.” “And we of you, Sir Dugald,” said Dick, finding his tongue suddenly. “You are bringing home peace with honour, as you said once at Kubbet-ul-Haj,” said Stratford. “The Chief gets the peace, and Stratford the honour,” observed Fitz, _sotto voce_, to Georgia. “Do you call that a fair division or not, Miss Keeling?” EPILOGUE. (Being part of a letter addressed by Mr Fitzgerald Anstruther, about a year after the return of the English Mission from Kubbet-ul-Haj, to Mrs North, M.D., British Residency, Iskandarbagh.)