You forget----" "Oh, I forget nothing! I said royal blood.

My father, madam, was the brother of the Czar, and my mother was Pauline Felix.

You don't seem to understand----" after a moment's pause.

"It was my mother whose name you said should not cross any decent woman's lips--my mother----" She broke down into wild sobs.
"When I said it I did not know that you---- I am sorry." Frances suddenly walked away, pulling open her collar.

It seemed to her that there was no breath in the world.