"Oh, Dick!" said Mary. "How absurd of you. It is impossible to imagine an Evershed in such a condition. But yet, you are right. How singular that most people should overlook so obvious a fact; that there is a Jewish aristocracy, possibly one of the most ancient in the world."
"The Jews are an Eastern people," replied Haredale. "That is the fact which is generally overlooked. They are, excepting one, the most remarkable people in the modern world."
"Do you know," said the girl, unconsciously lowering her voice, "I have sometimes thought that Séverac Bablon was in some way connected——"
"Yes?"
"With the ancient history of the Jews!"
"What do you mean exactly?"
"I can hardly explain. But at the Rohscheimers, on the night of the ball, Séverac Bablon was masked, of course; yet it seemed to me——"
"Mary," interrupted Haredale, "don't tell me that you believe the romantic stories circulating about the man!"
"What stories, Dick?"
"Why, about his holding the Seal of Suleyman, whatever that may be——"