ng
chair. The others remained standing.

"Mr. Finn called to inform me that he has been adopted as the Liberal
candidate for Hickney Heath."' "My felicitations," said the Princess.

Silas bowed to her gravely and addressed Colonel Winwood.

"We have been, sir--Mr. Savelli and I--for some time on terms of
personal friendship in the constituency."

"I see, I see," replied the Colonel, though he was somewhat puzzled.
"Very polite and friendly, I'm sure."

"Mr. Finn also urges me to withdraw my candidature," said Paul.

The Princess gave a little incredulous laugh. Ursula Winwood rose and,
with a quick protective step, drew nearer Paul. Colonel Winwood frowned.

"Withdraw? In Heaven's name why?"

Silas Finn tugged at his black-and-white-streaked beard and looked at
his son.

"Need we go into it again? There are religious reasons, which perhaps,
Madam"--Silas addressed the Princess--"you might misunderstand. Mr.
Savelli possibly thinks I am a fanatic. I can't help it. I have warned
him. That is enough. Good-bye, Mr. Savelli."

He held out his hand; but Paul did not take it. "You forget, Mr. Finn,
that I asked you to stay." He clutched the sides of his jacket till his
knuckles grew white, and he set his teeth. "Mr. Finn has another reason
for wishing me not to oppose him--"

"That reason you need never give," cried Silas in a loud voice, and
starting forward. "You know that I make no claims whatsoever."

"I know that," said Paul, coldly; "but I am going to give it all the
same." He paused, held up his hand and looked at the Princess. "Mr.
Silas Finn happens to be my father."

"Good God!" gasped the Colonel, after a flash of silence.

The Princess caught a quick breath and sat erect in her chair.

"Votre Pere, Paul?"

"Yes, Princess. Until half an hour ago I did not know it. Never in my
life did I know that I had a father living. My friends there can bear
witness that what I say is true."

"But, Paul dear," said Miss Winwood, laying her kind fingers on his arm
and searching his face, "you told us that your parents were dead and
that they were Italians."

"I lied," replied Paul calmly. "But I honestly believed the woman who
was my mother not to be my mother, and I had never heard of my father.
I had to account for myself to you. Your delicacy, Miss Winwood,
enabled me to invent as little as possible."

"But your name--Savelli?"

"I took it when I went on the stage--I had a few years' obscure and
unsucc