sses correspond with the fine old families of the United
States--and we have the advantage over you that by our own endeavor we
can change the titles, by our own efforts, without waiting for the
death of our loved ones."

His mind turned to his own mother, to whom his successes had been a
source of increasing happiness.

"I was only a little knight back home in Kentucky--when I was a tiny
chap. As I went into the world, and fought the battles, and won some
(after losing more), to my dad and the mother I became a prince.... And
the great thing about being a prince--to your family--in a republic, as
compared with being a prince in a monarchy, is that a chap must keep on
making good in the job, or he'll fail of election, just in the years
when he wants it most!

"To tell you the truth, your Highness, America is crowded with 'wealthy
families,' 'socially prominent,' 'old Colonial families,' two or three
million _Mayflower_ blossoms, and similar Philistines! There are
hundreds of clever people who make good annual incomes in our country
with their ingenuity in connecting the Joneses and the Browns and the
Smiths with Richard the Lion-Heart and Bill the Conqueror, by marriage.
In my native State, Kentucky, there are enough majors, colonels, and
generals to officer the armies of Europe--and as for judges!... There
are enough badges, fraternity pins, cockades, and association medals to
keep second-hand jewelers busy for their lifetimes! My countrymen are
the most passionate collectors of heraldic certificates and
genealogical maps in the world. The instinct for decoration is
prevalent--the more obscure the family, the more plentiful the framed
diplomas of aristocratic origin on the walls!"

The Princess was unable to follow the cynicism of the speech, but a
growing admiration for Jarvis' analytical powers led her to put
confidence in his opinions.

"And what harm does it do?" he concluded. "They are titles of universal
brotherhood, and peace breeds more American colonels and majors than an
international Armageddon. And it is all in the game!"

"And then, you do not have such a disgust for titles and the marks of
good family, after all?"

She was almost eager in her inquisition of the vassal.

"Your Serene Highness has no cause for worry: although you will
doubtless never need care for any American opinion" (and Warren studied
her face, as the fine silhouette was illumined by the nearby deck
light), "for in my country