between us. Why should there be? We had been disinherited and
banished. They had had their offer of reinstatement courteously
refused. We were quits.

I think I was the first of the family to set foot within Valeria since
Hugo left it. Ten years ago, during a summer's idling in Europe, I had
been seized with the desire to see the land of my people. It was a
breaking of our most solemn canon, yet I broke it none the less. Nor
was that the only time. However, I had the grace,--and, possibly, the
precaution,--to change my name on such occasions. In the Kingdom of
Valeria I was that well-known American, Mr. John Smith.

I did the ordinary tourist; visited the places of interest, and put up
at the regular hotels. Occasionally, I was stared at rather
impertinently by some officer of the Guards and I knew he had noted my
resemblance to the national hero. I never made any effort to be
presented to His Majesty nor to establish my relationship. I should
have been much annoyed had anything led to it being discovered.

Once, in the park of the palace, I had passed the King walking with a
single aide-de-camp, and his surprise was such he clean forgot to
return my salute; and a glance back showed him at a stand and gazing
after me. I knew he was thinking of the portrait in the Corridor of
Kings. That was the last time I had seen my royal cousin.

The next day, while riding along a secluded bridle path some miles from
Dornlitz, I came upon a woman leading a badly-limping horse. She was
alone,--no groom in sight,--and drawing rein I dismounted and asked if
I could be of service. Then I saw her face, and stepped back in
surprise. Her pictures were too plentiful in the capital for me to