He turned from the Princess, who was not greatly interested, to find
that for once he had succeeded in riveting the attention of the
girl, whose general attitude towards him and the whole world seemed
to be one of barely tolerant indifference.

"I should like to see over your house, Mr. De la Borne," she said.
"It all sounds very interesting."

"I am afraid," he answered, "that your interest would not survive
very long. We have no treasures left, nor anything worth looking at.
For generations the De la Bornes have stripped their house and sold
their lands to hold their own in the world. I am the last of my
race, and there is nothing left for me to sell," he declared, with a
momentary bitterness.

"Hadn't you--a half brother?" the Princess asked.

Cecil hesitated for a moment. He had drifted so easily into the
position of head of the house. It was so natural. He felt that he
filled the place so perfectly.

"I have," he admitted, "but he counts, I am sorry to say, for very
little. You are never likely to come across him--nor any other
civilized person."

There was a subtle indication in his tone of a desire not to pursue
the subject. His guests naturally respected it. There was a moment's
silence. Then Cecil once more leaned forward. He hesitated for a
moment, even after his lips had parted, as though for some reason he