"That is beyond belief; there are limits even to treachery." "Are there such limits? The man who granted Prince Ali's claims received not thirty pieces of silver, but two million pounds. He lives." Brand turned away his face. "Prince Ali was an agent, Brand, an agent of Russia, and the bribe of two million pounds was Russian money. The man who received that price of blood has not hanged himself, neither were his eyes gouged out, nor was he burned like your brother. He bought with it the Chancellorship of the British Empire. He is my father." Brand's iron-hard face was sterner than ever now. "Have you gone mad?" he asked. "Prove me insane or dreaming, or bewitched. Prove my father an honest man, and England safe. It would be all right then, Brand. Do you think it is a little thing to tell; that it is easily said? I, Ulster's son, that was a gentleman, am now a spy. His shame has tainted me, and so the leprosy will spread from generation to generation. I suppose," he added, "you think I'm hysterical." Leaning forward, Brand laid his hand upon Lord Sydney's shoulder. "There's some mistake," he said. "I tell you that my father, Ulster, is sold to Russia. He has forced upon the Government a degrading treaty." Brand was silent. "He has given our Lady, the Queen, to that drunken beast Alexander." Brand was silent. "He has divulged the Formula of the Fleets!" "Sydney!" Brand rose overthrowing his chair, then withholding himself by main force, sat heavily upon the desk. "Go on," he said hoarsely, "these statements need to be proved." "Time enough for that," Lord Sydney flung himself beside Brand's knees upon the desk, and buried his face in his arms. "I've lived in a dream world," he said in bitterness, "a world which I built for myself, where one's father could be respected, one's mother honoured. All things were as they should be; one could play the game----" He looked up, and his eyes were reddened. "I was a boy in that fool's paradise--but now, ah, well," he threw his head back, looking out at Brand with half-closed eyes, "I suppose I've got to be a man." Then he told Brand of the Emperor's visit to Lord Ulster, and how he had overheard what passed between them. "Have you proof?" asked the American.