"What is that?" asked the prince, fixing his keen eyes on his
companion's face.

"It is only this," replied San Giacinto, calmly. "My great-
grandfather was two years older than yours. You know he never
meant to marry, and resigned the title to his younger brother, who
had children already. He took a wife in his old age, and my
grandfather was the son born to him. That is why you are so much
older than I, though we are of the same generation in the order of
descent."

"Yes," assented the prince. "That accounts for it. Will you
smoke?"

Giovanni Saracinesca, Marchese di San Giacinto, looked curiously
at his cousin as he took the proffered cigar. There was something
abrupt in the answer which attracted his attention and roused his
quick suspicions. He wondered whether that former exchange of
titles, and consequent exchange of positions were an unpleasant
subject of conversation to the prince. But the latter, as though
anticipating such a doubt in his companion's mind, at once
returned to the question with the boldness which was natural to
him.

"There was a friendly agreement," he said, striking a match and
offering it to the Marchese. "I have all the documents, and have
studied them with interest. It might amuse you to see them, some
day."

"I should like to see them, indeed," answered San Giacinto. "They