The moment O'Hara saw the face of Hogarth, he started, muttering: “He has the diamonds back! God! is he a magician?” And Harris drawled nasally: “Of course, you wouldn't know me now, Mr. 76! Were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine, it _is_”. Hogarth was silent--had not yet decided what to do with Harris. “This is my tenth call here, Hogarth”, said O'Hara, “in the hope of seeing you, and the streets, you know, are no small risk. You see how I am muffled up, and this gentleman, too. By the bye, I have selected a cargo of books for you--” “No study for a month”, said Hogarth, “but I shall want you all the same. Just come over here and watch me write this thing. You, Harris, sit right over there”. Harris cursed, but obeyed, while O'Hara came and bent under the golden glow of the silk shade a brow puckered with a care of puzzlement, as he read. Then he fell into the work, and was soon the director of it--invaluable! knew everything! remembered forgotten points; explained technicalities; the proper person in each little State to whom the document must be directed, the style of addressing him. Of one sentence he said: “That will never do--lacks formality”; and of another: “Tut, they will laugh at that--it is provincial and insolent”, distracted between the work and his brandy glass. At last, about eleven, the three brains had produced a letter. Hogarth laid claim to the sea as his private property, and warned the nations. XXIX PRIORITY OF CLAIM A gentleman--a Permanent Under-secretary--stood one noon, his back to a fireplace in a bright-carpeted room at the Foreign Office, letting his eyes move over some opened letters submitted to him, and presently came upon the following document, its crest a flag, containing in blue the letters “R. F.”: “17 LEADENHALL STR., E.G. “To the Most Hon., “The Marquis of Hallam, K.G., “Foreign Office, “Westminster, S.W. “MY LORD MARQUIS: “I have the honour hereby to make formal announcement to Your Lordship that I am on the point of setting up in the midst of the world a new Power, whose relations with the King's Government will, I trust, be relations of friendliness. “It is my desire that Your Lordship forthwith convey to the King's Most Excellent Majesty the announcement which is the subject of this Memorandum. “My purposes and policy in the establishment of the new Power will hereafter appear; and my properly accredited Ministers will, in due course, present themselves at the Chancelleries of the world. “Hitherto a British subject, it is my will to acquire diplomatic recognition--as soon as such shall comport with the dignity of the Great Powers--as an Independent Sovereign, under the title of: 'Lord of the Sea'. (Address: 'Your Lordship's Majesty', or 'My Lord King'.)