"Mr. Harrison," the Emperor said, casting on the groom of the chambers a searching glance, "I believe you are a man of the world." "I am, sir," said Mr. Harrison, half allowing and half suppressing a yawn, a circumstance which made his countenance suddenly full of contradictory expressions. "You can judge of a name at a first hearing, Mr. Harrison, I presume?" said the Emperor. "Sir?" said Mr. Harrison, still under the influence of slumber. "You can tell what you think about a name the first time you hear it, I say?" rejoined the Emperor, raising his voice. "Oh, certainly, sir!" said Mr. Harrison, arranging the whisker which had been next to the bolster with an unerring hand—"oh, most certainly!" "Very well, then. Now, Mr. Harrison, give me your attention, if you please. I have here"—the Emperor pointed to Mr. Rodney's list—"the name James Bush." The Emperor paused, and Mr. Harrison tried to emerge from his last dream. "James Bush," repeated the Emperor. "Indeed, sir!" said Mr. Harrison, feeling like a novice entangled in some complicated game—"indeed!" "Well, Mr. Harrison?" said the Emperor with growing emphasis—"well?" The groom of the chambers felt that a statement of some kind about something was undoubtedly required of him; he made a violent effort to summon his mind, and, partially succeeding, was able presently to exclaim with a good deal of determination: "Not at all, sir—oh dear no; not at all—by no means!" This seemed to him a remark that was adroit, and one that covered a considerable number of interrogative possibilities. Unfortunately, however, it did not appear to satisfy the requirements of the Emperor, who with some ferocity remarked: "And what d'you mean by that, Mr. Harrison? Hah!" The groom of the chambers was at length fully aroused by the very complex situation in which he now found himself, and, being really a man of considerable resource, he put two and two together with the swiftness of a Maxim gun. "James Bush, sir," he said very emphatically; "oh dear no, sir! James Bush—not at all—by no means—on no account whatever!" He had not the smallest idea what he meant, or what he was being asked, and nobody could have been more surprised than himself at the effect which his vociferous jargon created. The Emperor turned to the Empress with the manner of a man who has received his quietus. "There, Henrietta!" he said hoarsely—"there! You see what Mr. Harrison thinks of him! And that he should come into the home! A feller like that—a feller that——" He broke off, and turned to the astounded groom of the chambers. "Mr. Harrison," he said, "we depend upon you in this affair entirely." Mr. Harrison inclined himself in unutterable perplexity. "Keep your eye upon him." "Sir?" "I say, keep your eye especially upon that feller James Bush." "Certainly, sir."