"But your royal blood—" protested the Countess.
"I am more proud of the fact that my mother was an honest woman," replied Guido, quietly.
"Yes—oh—of course!" The Countess was a little abashed. "But you know what I mean," she added, by way of making matters clear. "And as for your fortune—I would say, your allowance, and all that—it really does not matter. It is natural that you should have made debts, too. All young men do, I believe."
"No," said Guido. "I have not a debt in the world."
"Really?"
The single word sounded more like an exclamation of extreme surprise than like an interrogation, and the Countess, who was incapable of concealment, stared at Guido for a moment in undisguised astonishment.
"Why are you so much surprised?" he asked, with evident amusement. "My allowance is fifty thousand francs a year. That is not wealth, but it is quite enough for me."
"Yes. I should think so. That is—of course, it is not much—is it? I never know anything about money, you know! Baron Goldbirn manages everything for us."
"I suppose," Guido said, looking at her curiously, "that some one must have told you that I had made debts."
"Yes—yes! Some one did tell me so."