"The household of Clavelta are safe and honoured henceforth as no other in the land.
Something we must ask of him who is, at any rate for the present, the head of this household, and the representative of the Founder's lineage.

It may be," he whispered, "that another" (and his eyes fell on the veiled forms whose pink robes covered with dark crimson gauze indicated the younger matrons of the family) "may yet give to the Children of the Star that natural heir to the Signet we had hoped from your own household.

But the Order cannot remain headless." Here Zulve, approaching, gave into my hand the Signet unclasped from her husband's arm ere the coffer was closed upon his form.

I understood her meaning; and, as for the time the sole male representative of the house, I clasped it on the arm of the Chief who succeeded to Esmo's rank, and to whom I felt the care of Esmo's house might be safely left.

The due honour paid to his new office, I turned to depart.