interfere
with us. While the people of Theos remain, we of Reist are safe."

There was a momentary pause. Reist was conscious that his impetuous
speech was scarcely a happy one. For it was this man indeed who was
the outcast--whose name even had become strange to the people over
whom his forefathers had ruled. Erlito showed no resentment, but his
eyes were very sorrowful.

"Your family," he said, slowly, "have always been patriots. You
deserve well of your country people."

Reist glanced once more around the room.

"My visit to you," he said, "is not one of courtesy--nay, let me say
affection, only. I have a weighty matter to discuss with you. Will you
allow me to outstay your guests?"

"With all the pleasure in the world," Erlito answered, heartily. "I
should indeed insist upon it."

"You will perhaps continue your--game," Reist suggested, with another
glance towards the net. "My time is yours."

Erlito hesitated.

"You are very good, Nicholas," he said. "We are, as you see, playing
Badminton, and as a matter of fact we are very much in earnest about
this game. Miss Van Decht and I are playing the deciding match with my
friends there, Hassen and Brand. Let me find you a chair, and present
you to these good people. Afterwards--it will not be long--I shall be
wholly at your service; and, Nicholas, if you please, I am Erlito only
here. You understand?"

Reist assented gravely, and Erlito turned round. The two players were
talking to the girl across the net. An elderly man with grey imperial
and smoking a long cigar was leaning back in a deck-chair.

"Miss Van Decht," Erlito said, turning to her, "will you permit me to
present to you my very old friend, the Duke Nicholas of Reist--Miss
Van Decht, Mr. Van Decht, Mr. Hassen, Mr. Brand."

Reist bowed low before the girl, who looked straight into his
eyes with a frank and pleasant curiosity. She was largely made,
but the long flowing lines of her figure were perfectly and
symmetrically graceful. Her features were delicate, but her mouth was
delightful--large, shapely and sensitive. Her light brown hair, which
showed a disposition to wave, had escaped bounds a little during the
violent exercise and had fallen into picturesque disorder. She smiled
charmingly at Reist, but said nothing beyond the conventional words
of greeting. Then she looked up at Erlito with twinkling eyes.

"Mr. Brand is getting insupportable," she declared. "He is like all
you obstinate Engli