FullReads

“How dangerous, papa, to drop it into a box for the heathen!”

But little Tom found this talk tiresome, and asked leave to slip away, teasing Clifford as he went about some postage-stamps Clifford had promised him.

“Go bring the parcel I left on the hall table, and your papa will give you some Spanish stamps.”

So the boy brought the mail.

“What in the world is this?” cried Mr. Starr, as he cut open the great envelope; and more and more amazed he was as he ran down the lines:–

“`Much Esteemed and Respected Senor, Don JOHN STARR, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece:

“`SENOR,–It is with true yet inexpressible satisfaction that I write this private note, that I may be the first of your friends in Madrid to say to you that the order for your creation as a Knight Companion of the much esteemed and truly venerable Order of the Golden Fleece passed the seals of the Chancellerie yesterday. His Majesty is pleased to say that your views on the pacification of Porto Rico coincide precisely with his own; that the hands of the government will be strengthened as with the force of giants when he communicates them to the very excellent and much honored governor of the island, and that, as a mark of his confidence, he has the pleasure of sending to you the cordon of the order, and of asking your acceptance.’

“My dear Lady Dulcinea del Toboso, that is what came to you when that Cradock man threw a cent into the mud for me.”

“But, papa, what are the other letters?”

“Oh, yes, what are they? Here is English; it’s from Wendell. H’m–h’m–h’m. Shortpassage. Worcestershire– h’m–Wedgewood–h’m–Staffordshire–h’m. Why, Clara, George, listen:

“`I suppose you will not be surprised when I say that your suggestion made on the deck of the `Samaria,’ as to oxalate of strontium, was received with surprise by Herr Fernow and Herr Klee. But such is the respect in which suggestions from America are now held, that they ordered a trial at once in the Royal kilns, the result of which are memoranda A and B, enclosed. They are so much delighted with these results that they have formed a syndicate with the Winkels, of Potsdam, and the Schonhoffs, of Berlin, to undertake the manufacture in Germany; and I am instructed to ask you whether you will accept a round sum, say 150,000 marks, for the German patent, or join them, say as a partner, with twenty per cent of stock in their adventure.’

“I think so,” said Mr. Starr. “That is what the bright penny comes to at compound interest. Let us try Birnebaum’s letter.”

“`GOTTFRIEED BIRNEBAUM to JOHN STARR:

“`MY HONORED SIR,–I am at a loss to express to you the satisfaction with which I write. The eminently practical suggestions which you made to me so kindly and freely, as we parted, have, indeed, also proved themselves undoubtedly to be of even the first import. It has to me been also, indeed, of the very first pleasure to communicate them, as I said indeed, to the first director in charge at the works at Sevres, as I passed through Paris, and now yet again, with equal precision also and readiness, to the Herr first fabricant at Dresden. Your statement regarding the action of the oxides of gold, in combination with the tungstate of bdellium, has more than in practice verified itself. I am requested by the authorities at Dresden to ask the acceptance, by your accomplished and highly respected lady, of a dinner-set of their recent manufacture, in token small of their appreciation, renewed daily, of your contribution so valuable to the resources of tint and color in their rooms of design; and M. Foudroyant, of Sevres, tells me also, by telegraph of to-day, that to the same much esteemed and highly distinguished lady he has shipped by the `San Laurent’ a tea-service, made to the order of the Empress of China, and delayed only by the untoward state of hostilities, greatly to be regretted, on the Annamite frontier.'”

Mr. Starr read this long-winded letter with astonishment.

“Well, Dulcinea, you will be able to give a dinner- party to the King of Spain when he comes to visit you at Toboso.

“So much for Brother Cradock’s penny.”

“Dear John, till I die I will never be afraid to call you back when your buttons are tattered.”

“And for me,” said little Jack, “I will go now and look under the bureau for the lost cent, and will have it for my own.”

(ENTER SERVANTS, R. H. L. E., I WITH THE DRESDEN CHINA.

THEY MEET OTHER SERVANTS, L. H. L. E., WITH THE SEVRES CHINA.)

TABLEAU.

CURTAIN.