de a deprecating gesture. "Don't let that disturb you, cousin."

"And believe me, also, I had no intention to disclose my relationship,"
I protested.

The King laughed. "You could not hide it with that face," he said.

I must have flushed, for he exclaimed: "Ha! You know that, do you?"

For answer I drew out the miniature of old Henry, which I had brought
hoping for an opportunity to compare it with the original, and handed
it to him.

He gave it a quick glance and nodded. "Yes, that went with Hugo," he
said.

I was surprised and looked it.

"Oh, the family records are very complete as to the affair of your
headstrong ancestor," he explained. "Old Henry himself set it all out
in his journal; and he speaks of this very miniature as having been
given to Hugo by his mother, the day he left Dornlitz. There were two
of them, copied from the portrait in the Corridor." He crossed to a
cabinet. "And here is the other one," he said.

I glanced at Courtney. He threw up his hands in defeat; at the same
time, however, signifying that I should press my advantage while the
King was so well disposed.

But I shook my head. My descent had been acknowledged, and that was
quite enough--more than enough, indeed. I had come to Valeria as a
Major in the American Army. I sought no favors from the Dalbergs here.
From which it would seem that a bit of Hugo's stubborn independence had
come down to me. As for Courtney, the shrug of his shoulders was very
eloquent of what he thought of such independence.

"Perchance you never heard of a certain letter dispatched to Hugo by
his brother, Frederick, after Henry's death?" the King asked.

"And delivered by his Ambassador," I supplemented.

"The same. Hugo, too, seems to have kept a journal."

"He kept the letter itself, and a copy of his answer," I added.

The King laughed. "Altogether, Hugo must have been a rare fine fellow,
with a mind of his own."

"He was a son of Henry the Third," I answered.

The King nodded. "Yet 'twas a pity he did not accept Frederick's
offer."

"I fancy the new life was more to his mind."

"Doubtless,--but, had he returned, it would be you and not Ferdinand of
Lotzen who would be the Heir Presumptive of Valeria."

I smiled. "Had he returned I would not be I."

"True enough," said he. "But think of the crown of your ancestors that
might be yours."

"It is enough to be a Dalberg. I have never thought of the crown," I
answered.

"