There are a hundred millions of us and all of us are very highborn not excepting our colored people, many of whom are descended from African princes who have a power over their people not approached by either of the kaisers." The boy smiled.
"Now, I know you jest," he said.

"You have no classes, but I've heard that all of you claim to be kings." John saw that he had made no impression upon him.

Frank, honest and brave, an Auersperg was nevertheless in the boy's mind an Auersperg, something superior, a product of untold centuries, a small and sublimated group of the human race to which nothing else could aspire, not even talent, learning, courage and honesty.

To all Auerspergs, Napoleon and Shakespeare were mere men of genius, to be patronized.

John smiled, too.