'Money,' he said at length. 'As a family we are very poor - poorer
than anyone in Berlin suspects.'

'Prince Aribert,' Nella said, 'shall I tell you what I think?' She
leaned back in her chair, and looked at him out of half-closed eyes.
His pale, thin, distinguished face held her gaze as if by some
fascination. There could be no mistaking this man for anything
else but a Prince.

'If you will,' he said.

'Prince Eugen is the victim of a plot.'

'You think so?'

'I am perfectly convinced of it.'

'But why? What can be the object of a plot against him?'

'That is a point of which you should know more than me,' she
remarked drily.

'Ah! Perhaps, perhaps,' he said. 'But, dear Miss Racksole, why are
you so sure?'

'There are several reasons, and they are connected with Mr
Dimmock. Did you ever suspect, your Highness, that that poor
young man was not entirely loyal to you?'

'He was absolutely loyal,' said the Prince, with all the earnestness