ild eyes glowed again in a sort of madness. 'Have you
thought that I am unmarried, and might die at any moment, and then the
throne will descend to you--to you, Aribert?'

'The throne will never descend to me, Eugen,' said Aribert softly, 'for
you will live. You are thoroughly convalescent. You have nothing to
fear.'

'It is the next seven days that I fear,' said Eugen.

'The next seven days! Why?'

'I do not know. But I fear them. If I can survive them--'

'Mr Sampson Levi, sire,' Hans announced in a loud tone.

Chapter Twenty MR SAMPSON LEVI BIDS PRINCE EUGEN GOOD MORNING

PRINCE EUGEN started. 'I will see him,' he said, with a gesture to Hans
as if to indicate that Mr Sampson Levi might enter at once.

'I beg one moment first,' said Aribert, laying a hand gently on his
nephew's arm, and giving old Hans a glance which had the effect of
precipitating that admirably trained servant through the doorway.

'What is it?' asked Prince Eugen crossly. 'Why this sudden seriousness?
Don't forget that I have an appointment with Mr Sampson Levi, and must
not keep him waiting. Someone said that punctuality is the politeness of
princes.'

'Eugen,' said Aribert, 'I wish you to be as serious as I am. Why cannot
we have faith in each other? I want to help you. I have helped you. You
are my titular Sovereign; but on the other hand I have the honour to be
your uncle:

I have the honour to be the same age as you, and to have been your
companion from youth up. Give me your confidence. I thought you had
given it me years ago, but I have lately discovered that you had your
secrets, even then. And now, since your illness, you are still more
secretive.'

'What do you mean, Aribert?' said Eugen, in a tone which might have been
either inimical or friendly. 'What do you want to say?'

'Well, in the first place, I want to say that you will not succeed with
the estimable Mr Sampson Levi.'

'Shall I not?' said Eugen lightly. 'How do you know what my business is
with him?'

'Suffice it to say that I know. You will never get that million pounds
out of him.'

Prince Eugen gasped, and then swallowed his excitement. 'Who has been
talking? What million?' His eyes wandered uneasily round the room. 'Ah!'
he said, pretending to laugh. 'I see how it is. I have been chattering
in my delirium. You mustn't take any notice of that, Aribert. When one
has a fever one's ideas become grotesque and fanciful.'

'You never talked in your deli