newspaper men so much as surmised the truth of the matter, and now the sequence of events pertaining to that lively three weeks during which Stranleigh was the principal theme of paragraphists and caricaturists in the American Press, is here, for the first time, set down in print.
Lord Stranleigh was perfectly happy in London, and had no more thought of visiting New York than of going to the moon, when one morning, as he sat at breakfast, his great friend, Peter Mackeller, the young mining engineer, was announced. Mackeller had himself become a rich man through his partnership with Lord Stranleigh, and on such brotherly terms were the two, that each called on the other without ceremony at any odd hour. Stranleigh always kept a vacant chair opposite him at meal times, and plates were solemnly changed before it by the man in waiting, just as if a guest were present. Then should anyone drop in, a chair and a plate were waiting for him.
"Come along, Peter," cried Stranleigh, when the young man entered, "come along and occupy the vacant chair."
"Thanks, I had breakfast in the morning."
"Yes, I knew you'd say that. I generally provide you with an opportunity for making the remark. I like to hear it. There is such a delicate, subtle reproach in its tone that I always feel righteously reproved, for my late rising. You get up at a few hours after midnight, at a time you
