Turkey, that’s Russia, that’s France, and that’s Austria—­and this is ourselves!’ he would say, making the moves up or down, but not knowing where to stop.  ’It won’t do to push that one, it won’t!’ he continued, pointing at the one he called Austria.  ’If you did, nothing would you get from under it.  It’s a costly cup with a tender handle, somewhat dangerous to turn:  only the cup of Spain is more costly; but that in this emergency is of no account whatever.’  They had no United States cup to move, inasmuch as Jonathan had very respectfully declined to hazard a point in European games when he withheld his ascent to a tripartite treaty for the purpose of keeping his delicate fingers off Cuba.  Now these very antiquated gentlemen seemed to entertain some respect for the British Lion, some apprehension of Jonathan and Nicholas, and a great dislike for fighting, which they had been driven, or rather drifted, into much against their imagined obligations to peace; for, indeed, did they carry on the war tail foremost, finding everything they had done large of stupidity.  By and by a loud call rang through the tabernacle, and in another minute the platter of dough-nuts was borne in by two cooks.  One, they said was Mrs. Victoria, and the other was Mr. Napoleon, curious acquaintances, who lugged and tugged, and puffed and blowed; and the piping hot doughnuts nuts gave out their glows.  Then the players all seemed to quicken up, as if they had sooner be eating than thinking.

“’Strange things will come to pass at times, and nothing stranger has come to pass than that John Bull and Johnny Crappo have gone into the brotherly-love business, by which they hope to bring about one grand object,’ I said.  ’Neither had I any objection to Spain joining, provided she kept Cuba all right.  But, Cuba being so near Uncle Sam’s fingers, nothing more than the common course of events was needed to let it slide so naturally into his modest hands.’  Smooth told the old gentlemen that the very best way to hasten Uncle Sam’s getting Cuba was to point out a process by which he could keep his hand out of his pockets.  ’We, Mr. Smooth, do not question your correctness on the point, so far at it refers to this Cuba business, and the tripartite treaty which we would you had signed merely that your fingers were kept off the property; but you have misconstrued our amiable motives—­we only wanted to form a trio, honorable in combination—­that is, we would it were mutually understood that you do not annex Cuba, and we will not!’ said my Lord Littlejohn, who spoke quite as spunky, though with less assurance on geography, than he did to the very amiable Mr. Everett.  Smooth understood the P’s and Q’s of the thing, without examining further into the portfolio.  It was Johnny Bull saying to Johnny Crappo—­’them Yankees ’ll get Cuba!—­in spite of all we can do.’  Of course something must be said in return; so Crappo puts in his say:—­’Can’t you suggest some way to stop it, Uncle John?’ he inquires, with a quizzical shrug, adding—­mon dieu! ’But, by gar, we may do him somefin yet, by gar!’