Part 9 (1/2)

She was the first to break the silence.

”Are you trying to be funny?” Her voice was very cold.

”Not at all,” he answered hotly. ”It must be all of ten generations back or even more, and of course it wasn't all Spanish afterward, but, just the same, I'm as much a descendant of the princess as you are of the duke,--always have been! I'm just as proud of it, too. Possibly you will remember that the Spanish beat the English to it, at least in California. Anyway,” he finished bitterly, ”what difference does it make? So far as I can see, it only gives us one more good subject to quarrel about!”

Then out of the dimness came a queer little sound, whether of tears or of laughter it was impossible to know. For the least part of a second a hand brushed his own.

”Oh, no!” she whispered, ”Let's not do that. It wouldn't be right! And see,” she laughed tremulously, ”Isn't it strange I should have found it today, but,” she lifted the white thing in her lap, ”here is Wildenai's wedding dress--and the chain of garnets!”

The cavern was quite dark before they had finished talking about it, but at length they laid the poor little ghost of a garment reverently back among the stones and rose to go.

”But the necklace?” Blair asked, hesitating, ”do you think we ought to leave that here?”

The girl considered a moment.

”It's really yours,” she decided. ”n.o.body else could have the least claim to it.”

”Except--” Suddenly his eyes shone with a strange expression before which the little art teacher instinctively shrank. He took a step toward her.

”I believe I'll give the garnets back,” he announced. ”I fancy that's what the princess would have liked to do if she'd had the chance.