Helena burst into tears.

'Oh, my father, I did think of you—I do think of you always; but this crisis is beyond me and above us both. I have thought it out, and I cannot do anything else than what I am prepared to do. I have thought it over night after night, again and again—I have prayed for guidance—and I see no other way! You know,' and a smile began to show itself through her tears, 'long before I knew that he loved me I was always thinking what I ought to do, supposing he did love me! And then, papa dear, if I were to remain at home, and to marry a marquis, or an alderman, or a man from Chicago, I might get diphtheria and die, and who would be the better for that—except, perhaps, the marquis, or the alderman, or the man from Chicago?'

'Look here, Sir Rupert,' the Dictator said, 'let me tell you that at first I was not inclined to listen to this pleading of your daughter. I thought she did not understand the sacrifice she was making. But she has conquered me—she has shown me that she is in earnest—and I have caught the inspiration of her spirit and her generous self-sacrifice, and I have not the heart to resist her—I dare not refuse her. She shall come, in God's name!'

* * * * *

Before many weeks there came to the London morning papers a telegram from the principal seaport of Gloria.

'His Excellency President Ericson, ex-Dictator of Gloria, has just landed with his young wife and his secretary, Mr. Hamilton, and has been received with acclamation by the populace everywhere. The Reactionary Government by whom he was exiled have been overthrown by a great rising of the military and the people. Some of the leaders have escaped across the frontier into Orizaba, the State to which they had been trying to hand over the Republic. The Dictator will go on at once to the capital, and will there reorganise his army, and will promptly move on to the frontier to drive back the invading force.'

There came, too, a private telegram from Helena to her father, concocted with a reckless disregard of the cost per word of a submarine message from South America to London.

'My darling Papa,—It is so glorious to be the wife of a patriot and a hero, and I am so happy, and I only wish you could be here.'

When Captain Sarrasin gets well enough, he and his wife will go out to Gloria, and it is understood that at the special request of Hamilton, and of some one else too, they will take Dolores Paulo out with them.

For which other reason, as for many more, we wish success and freedom, and stability and progress to the Republic of Gloria, and happiness to the Dictator, and to all whom he has in charge.



* * * * *



OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE DICTATOR.

'In Mr. McCarthy's novels we are always certain of finding humour, delicate characterisation, and an interesting story; but they are chiefly attractive, we think, by the evidence they bear upon every page of being written by a man who knows the world well, who has received a large and liberal education in the university of life. In "The Dictator" Mr. McCarthy is in his happiest vein. The life of London—political, social, artistic—eddies round us. We assist at its most brilliant pageants, we hear its superficial, witty, and often empty chatter, we catch whiffs of some of its finer emotions.... The brilliantly sketched personalities stand out delicately and incisively individualised. Mr. McCarthy's light handling of his theme, the alertness and freshness of his touch, are admirably suited to the picture he paints of contemporary London life.'—Daily News.

'"The Dictator" is bright, sparkling, and entertaining.... Few novelists are better able to describe the political and social eddies of contemporary society in the greatest city in the world than Mr. McCarthy; and this novel abounds in vivid and picturesque sidelights, drawn with a strong and simple touch.'—Leeds Mercury.

'This is a pleasant and entertaining story.... A book to be read by an open window on a sunny afternoon between luncheon and tea.'—Daily Chronicle.

'Mr. McCarthy's story is pleasant reading.'—Scotsman.

'As a work of literary art the book is excellent.'—Glasgow Herald.

'"The Dictator" is bright, sparkling, and entertaining. The book might almost be described as a picture of modern London. It abounds in vivid and picturesque sidelights, drawn with a strong touch.'—Leeds Mercury.

'In "The Dictator" the genial leader of the Irish party writes as charmingly as ever. His characters are as full of life, as exquisitely portrayed, and as true to nature as anything that is to be found in fiction, and there is the same subtle fascination of plot and incident that has already procured for the author of "Dear Lady Disdain" his select circle of admirers.... The nicety of style, the dainty wholesome wit, and the ever-present freshness of idea that pervade it render the reading of it a positive feast of pleasure. It is the work of a man of the world and a gentleman, of a man of letters, and of a keen observer of character and manners.'—Colonies and India.

THE END