“Do I want help?” I asked.

“Yes,” said she.

“Then suppose I do mean it?”

Donna Antonia refused to be frivolous.  With a look of genuine distress she said: 

“You will not let your real friends save you, Mr. Martin.  You know you want help.  Why don’t you consider the state of your affairs?”

“In that, at least, my friends in Whittingham are very ready to help me,” I answered, with some annoyance.

“If you take it in that way,” she replied sadly, “I can do nothing.”

I was rather touched.  Clearly she wished to be of some use to me, and for a moment I thought I might do better to tear myself free from my chains, and turn to the refuge opened to me.  But I could not do this; and, thinking it would be rather mean to take advantage of her interest in me only to use it for my own purposes, I yielded to conscience and said: 

“Donna Antonia, I will be straightforward with you.  You can only help me if I accept your guidance?  I can’t do that.  I am too deep in.”

“Yes, you are deep in, and eager to be deeper,” she said.  “Well, so be it.  If that is so I cannot help you.”

“Thank you for your kind attempt,” said I.  “I shall very likely be sorry some day that I repulse it.  I shall always be glad to remember that you made it.”

She looked at me a moment, and said: 

“We have ruined you among us.”

“Mind, body, and estate?”

She made no reply, and I saw my return to flippancy wounded her.  So I rose and took my leave.  Johnny Carr went with me.

“Things look queer, eh, old man?” said he.  “But the President will pull through in spite of the colonel and his signorina.”

“Johnny,” said I, “you hurt my feelings; but, still, I will give you a piece of advice.”

“Drive on,” said Johnny.

“Marry Donna Antonia,” said I.  “She’s a good girl and a clever girl, and won’t let you get drunk or robbed.”

“By Jove, that’s not a bad idea!” said he.  “Why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Because I’m like you, Johnny—­an ass,” I replied, and left him wondering why, if he was an ass and I was an ass, one ass should marry Donna Antonia, and not both or neither.

As I went along I bought the Gazette, the government organ, and read therein: 

“At a Cabinet Council this afternoon, presided over by his Excellency, we understand that the arrangements connected with the national debt formed the subject of discussion.  The resolutions arrived at are at present strictly confidential, but we have the best authority for stating that the measures to be adopted will have the effect of materially alleviating the present tension, and will afford unmixed satisfaction to the immense majority of the citizens of Aureataland.  The President will once again be hailed as the saviour of his country.”

“I wonder if the immense majority will include me,” said I.  “I think I will go and see his Excellency.”