They speedily had evidence of Mrs. Uffington’s activity. She was not prepared to lose the credit of discovering a beautiful Oriental princess who had been adopted by an American millionaire! Every ship reporter in the city was primed; camera men were there in flocks. And Zalithea imperiously declined to see any of them! She retired to her cabin, with old Safîyeh on guard in the alleyway; and all remonstrances were in vain. For a considerable time she banned Aunt Micky, as well, until Danbazzar made it clear to her that Aunt Micky was John Cumberland’s sister. She received her, then, very graciously. Aunt Micky was stupefied. “She’s a beauty, young Cumberland,” she confided to Barry. “But who the devil _is_ she?” “The daughter of one of the minor rulers out there, Micky!” “But she’s not black! She’s whiter than I am!” “It isn’t _my_ fault,” said Barry humbly. “Cleopatra wasn’t black, according to all accounts.” “But this girl isn’t an Egyptian.” “Neither was Cleopatra!” “Young Cumberland--you have a secret eye! It’s the right. I’ll get the truth out of John!” Out on the deck, Jim Sakers and pretty Jack Lorrimer were consoling each other. When, presently, Barry reappeared: “This is the blackest hour of my life!” Jim declared plaintively. “I am despised--cast out--rejected. I feel like a falling stock. As though it isn’t bad enough to be told that the coveted bottle of unchanging desert has been forgotten! No man with a heart could have overlooked my quart of eternal sand. Now, with my eyes bulging out of my head and my temperature at a hundred and four in the shade, I’m told, ‘No fairy princess. Pass along, please. Stand clear of the gangway!’” “Be patient, Jim,” said Barry. “She feels very strange.” “_She_ feels very strange!” cried Jim. “_I_ feel completely extraordinary! Here are we--poor little sleepy Jack, who didn’t go to bed until three o’clock, and tired-eyed Jim who had to get home after seeing _her_ home--here are we, lured from our slumbers at an unearthly hour by false promises!… Sand and sorrow!” When Zalithea finally went ashore she was so heavily veiled that not a glimpse of her features could be obtained. As a result, the most conflicting accounts were published. For a ship reporter whose imagination cannot penetrate a few yards of drapery is not worthy of his hire. “Veiled Princess for Cumberland Collection,” was one good headline. “Daughter of Persian Pasha Says New York Like Paradise,” another declared. “Harem Beauty Brought by _Berengaria_,” was the line which appealed to Jim. But Barry’s indignation was aroused by “Cumberland Cleopatra Here!”