nd marry?"

"I think I begin to see," she said, a touch of pink coming into her
cheeks.

"That's encouraging," he said, staring gloomily at the food he had put
aside. "You are quite sure you promised Vos Engo that you'd marry him?"

"No. I did not promise him that I'd marry him," she said, leaning back
and surveying him between narrowed lids.

"I beg your pardon. You said you had promised--"

"You did not allow me time to finish. I meant to say that I had promised
to let him know in a day or two. That is all, Mr. King." There was a
suspicious tremor in her voice and her gaze wavered beneath his
unbelieving stare.

"What's that?" he demanded. "You--you don't mean to say that--Oh, Lord!
I wonder! I wonder if I have a chance--just a ghost of a chance?" He
leaned very close, incredulous, fascinated. "What is it that you are
going to let him know? Yes or no?"

"That was the question I was considering when the brigands caught me,"
she answered, meeting his gaze fairly. "I haven't thought of it since."

"Of course, he is in your own class," said Truxton glumly.

She hesitated an instant, her face growing very serious. "Mr. King, has
no one told you my name--who I am?" she asked.

"You are the Prince's aunt, that's all I know."

"No more his aunt in reality than Jack Tullis is his uncle. I thought
you understood."

"Who are you, then?"

"I am Jack Tullis's sister, a New Yorker bred and born, and I live not
more than two blocks from your--"

"For the love of--" he began blankly; then words failed him, which was
just as well. He gulped twice, joy or unbelief choking him. The smile
that crept into her face dazzled him; he stared at her in speechless
amazement. "Then--then, you are not a duchess or a--" he began again.

"Not at all. A very plain New Yorker," she said, laughing aloud in
sudden hysteria. For some reason she drew quickly away from him. "You
are not disappointed, are you? Does it spoil your romance to--"

"Spoil it? Disappointed? No! By George, I--I can't believe that any such
luck--no, no, I don't mean it just that way! Let me think it out. Let
me get it through my head." He leaned back against the wall and devoured
her with eager, disturbing eyes. "You are Tullis's sister? You live
near--Oh, I say, this is glorious!" He arose and took a turn about the
room. In some nervousness and uncertainty she also came to her feet,
watching him wonderingly. He hurried back to her, a new light in his
eyes. She