hat he was a missionary in the South
Seas for some time, and that he was afterwards for many years in India.
I'm sorry I cannot tell you more about him since you are interested in
him."

"I've met him somewhere, I'm certain. His face haunts me. But to return
to your son--I hope he is none the worse for his adventure?"

"Not at all, thank you. Owing to the system I have adopted in his
education, the lad is seldom ailing."

"Pardon my introducing the subject. But do you think it is quite wise to
keep a youth so ignorant of the world? I am perhaps rather presumptuous,
but I cannot help feeling that such a fine young fellow would be all the
better for a few companions."

"You hit me on rather a tender spot, Mr. Hatteras. But, as you have been
frank with me, I will be frank with you. I am one of those strange
beings who govern their lives by theories. I was brought up by my
father, I must tell you, in a fashion totally different from that I am
employing with my son. I feel now that I was allowed a dangerous amount
of license. And what was the result? I mixed with every one, was
pampered and flattered far beyond what was good for me, derived a false
notion of my own importance, and when I came to man's estate was, to all
intents and purposes, quite unprepared and unfitted to undertake the
duties and responsibilities of my position.

"Fortunately I had the wit to see where the fault lay, and there and
then I resolved that if ever I were blessed with a son, I would conduct
his education on far different lines. My boy has not met a dozen
strangers in his life. His education has been my tenderest care. His
position, his duties towards his fellow-men, the responsibilities of his
rank, have always been kept rigorously before him. He has been brought
up to understand that to be a Duke is not to be a titled nonentity or a
pampered _roue_, but to be one whom Providence has blessed with an
opportunity of benefiting and watching over the welfare of those less
fortunate than himself in the world's good gifts.

"He has no exaggerated idea of his own importance; a humbler lad, I feel
justified in saying, you would nowhere find. He has been educated
thoroughly, and he has all the best traditions of his race kept
continually before his eyes. But you must not imagine, Mr. Hatteras,
that because he has not mixed with the world he is ignorant of its
temptations. He may not have come into personal contact with them, but
he has been warned