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“So my claim is as good as hers!” Magnus stared.

“Perhaps better! And they’re all afraid that I might try to assert it! Then who knows what would happen to their standard of living!”

Be fair, Magnus. Would you wish to see a stranger come in and take a prize that you had thought would be yours?

“No, I certainly wouldn’t,” Magnus breathed,

“and I would do everything I could to make sure I kept that prize, no matter what!”

Unfortunately true.

“An ideal resolution, isn’t it?” Magnus said bitterly. “For Pelisse to marry me, thus unifying both claims! I would have the title, she would tell me what to do with it, and the family could relax! Do you think this was her own idea, Fess? Or did her mother put her up to it?”

It would ‘be difficult to say, Magnus, but I think we might conjecture that neither lady was terribly opposed to the idea.

“But Robert was. How say you, Fess—does my cousin harbor a rather unhealthy interest in Pelisse?”

It is unhealthy only emotionally, Magnus, as they are not truly brother and sister, but were only raised as such. In fact, I have determined that they are related only in the fourth degree of consanguinity, so there would certainly be no bar to their marrying.

“Yes, and he would become Count, and have the title, the business, and Pelisse, too! Probably had the whole process well in train, in fact, until I came in and derailed it! Big muscular stranger, from outside 49

the immediate gene pool, with the mystery of the far traveller about him—oh yes, very unfair competition for the poor fellow! No wonder he was ready to use my anatomy for fish bait! And now that I look back on this last fortnight from this perspective, I can understand the occasional glance that passed between him and Pelisse—she Was enjoying his jealousy!

Fess, could it be that my fair cousin returns Robert’s interest?”

Perhaps, Magnus, though I certainly would not characterize such interest as a prime example of ro-mantic love.

“No, but it’s as good as she’s apt to do here!”

You wrong the lady, Magnus.

“Do I? I wouldn’t really characterize her interest in me as being an impassioned true love, either!

More a matter of an interesting novelty, but one that would pall rather quickly—and definitely would have to be civilized and overhauled, if she were going to keep it around for any length of time! No wonder I’ve been wary! No wonder she’s been so interested!

How could I possibly have been such a blockhead!”

Certainly not a blockhead, Magnus, Fess murmured. I would never characterize you as such, simply because you are always willing to give the other person the benefit of the doubt.

“Yes, but I think the time has come for modera-tion, don’t you, Fess? Time to start restricting that impulse to situations where it doesn’t really matter!”

Magnus, I fear you are becoming a cynic.

“Cynic? Oh, my heavens, no, Fess! Merely a stu-50

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dent of human nature, eh? Yes, of course. I think it’s time I had a little chat with all my relatives at once.

Don’t you?”

Magnus, surely you would not be ungracious!

That stilled the young giant. He stood a moment in thought, then said, “Yes, I was about to be unpar-donably rude, wasn’t I? Not to mention being un-grateful and risking giving hurt unjustly. I’ll have to be a bit more circumspect when I confront them. After all, I only wish to be helpful, don’t I?”

Helpful. Magnus}

“Yes, helpful. After all, they do have a problem with the succession. It would only be proper courtesy for a guest to help them resolve it. Wouldn’t it?

Yes, of course.”

51

Magnus hadn’t intended to risk upsetting his great-uncle, but when the Count heard that he had asked for a “family conference,” the old man had insisted it be held in his bedchamber. Now Magnus sat looking about at them all, choosing his words very carefully, not wishing to hurt any of them—he should really have been feeling sorry for each one. But the feeling of outrage was still there, though firmly held down, and he couldn’t completely keep his emotions out of the affair.

“Well, what is this all about then?” the old Count demanded. He stirred restlessly in his bed. “Say your piece, young man. What is it that is so important that you wish to address it to us all together?”

“Why, Uncle,” Magnus said slowly, “what should it be but my thanks for your hospitality, and a farewell?”