“You shall learn in the course of the day, little lady.” “Shall I tread that glorious shore very soon?” “As soon as it may be proper and expedient that you should,” replied Julius Luxmore, feeling a curious interest in the visual illusion that presented a wild, rugged and desolate coast, under such a celestial aspect to the insulated Island maiden; but wondering no longer that her whole imagination invested the whole world beyond with such heavenly beauty—for after all, the cause lay in the atmospheric effect of distance, and she conceived the glorious shores only as she saw them. The ringing of the breakfast bell summoned them to the house. The breakfast table was neatly arranged in the back parlor on the left side of the hell. Madeleine the quadroon and her son Frivole were in attendance. But two covers were laid. Madeleine courtesied and announced that her master would not appear at the table, but would breakfast in his room, and begged that his guest would excuse him and command his house and servants. Julius Luxmore would do that thing with great pleasure at some future time, he thought. He handed the little girl to her seat at the table, and took his place at the opposite side of the board. Madeleine was a good housekeeper, and the breakfast was excellent. When the morning meal was over, Mr. Luxmore assorted his papers that he always now carefully carried about his person, and prepared for his visit to Monsieur De L’Ile. At the appointed hour he presented himself. He found “His Majesty” in the same room, seated at the same table, where he had been first introduced to him. In truth, the Island King looked not much the worse for the sad news that had been told him. He was clothed in a somewhat faded purple cashmere dressing-gown, and now seemed fuller of business than of sorrow. “I am glad of this. It is the way of madness, however,” said Julius Luxmore to himself, on seeing the state of the case. As the “Embassador” advanced to the table, “His Majesty” looked up and nodded graciously and desired that Monsieur would waive ceremony, draw up a chair and seat himself, that they might proceed to business. Mr. Luxmore complied. But it is not necessary that I should trouble the reader with the details of “business” transacted between a madman on the one part and a villain on the other. It is sufficient to say that Mr. Luxmore presented his credentials—consisting of the last will and testament of Victoire L’Orient together with various documents, all valuable as corroborative testimony to the authenticity of the will. The credentials were so well received, and the bearer of the credentials so well approved, that after some excellent diplomacy, Julius Luxmore found himself so high in royal favor as to receive the appointment to the post of premier, _vice_ Monsieur Louis, deceased.