For over a thousand years the Dukes of Gantley have struggled to hold and maintain their ancestral domain, Gramercy Park, the most splendid and imposing edifice on the South Coast of England. But when Paul, the ninth Duke of Gantley, inherits the estates, events bode ill for the family manse, for Paul is a rake, a spendthrift and a thoroughly bad lot. Soon he is selling off large tracts of lands in order to settle his gambling debts and his escapades with women. He is also a suspect in the mysterious deaths of several young women. Then one night in a drunken rage, he banishes his younger brother David and his sister Julia from their home. But a strange set of circumstances finds his life in the hands of David; and even though he begs for mercy from his younger brother, David refuses and takes the life of Paul, just as Cain slew Abel, and lives to regret it the rest of his life. In the meantime, with his brother s death, David becomes the tenth Duke of Gantley.

Barely a hundred miles from Gramercy Park, across the English Channel, lies the coast of France. In its glittering capitol the Dukes of Gantley find their favorite playground amid the splendors and excitements of that dazzling city. More than one Duke of Gantley chose his Duchesse from among the most beautiful women of Paris; David was no exception. He chose the exquisitely beautiful Alicia Dumont, whose mother had been a ballerina and a well-known courtesan in her day. But the events of history have a way of changing people s lives and bringing tragedy when it is least expected. While Alicia and their two children are in Paris visiting Alicia s mother, the Franco-Prussian War breaks out and they find themselves virtual prisoners during the Siege of Paris. David is desperate to bring them back to the safety of English soil and risks his life to do so. But when he returns to Gramercy Park he is a broken man, for history has exacted its price.

Figuring in the story is a magnificent diamond necklace said to be made from stones that were once a part of the notorious necklace of Marie Antoinette; said necklace was instrumental in bringing down the French Monarchy and perpetrating the French Revolution. The necklace is stolen three times, and David risks his life to recover it each time.

When David s son is born he names him Paul, after his brother, in a vain attempt to ease his own conscience for the role he played in his brother s death, but it turns out to be a curse instead. Young Paul is arrested in a male brothel in London and brings disgrace to the family s name. David is furious and disinherits the boy. Paul dies tragically of syphilis in Paris and David struggles with his remorse. David s youngest brother, Tim, carries on the line and becomes the eleventh Duke of Gantley and brings the family and Gramercy Park into the Twentieth Century.

(Although the name DeKingsley figures in the family tree of the author, the De Kingsley family in this narrative is strictly fictional.)

Albert Thon was born on July 13, 1913. He was educated at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the Culver Military Academy in Indiana. Mr. Thon has lived most of his life in Southern California. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Albert has traveled extensively in all the countries of Western Europe and all the States of the United States except Alaska. He has also traveled through Mexico, the West Indies and Tahiti. Mr. Thon now lives in Florida. He has written one other novel, a libretto to a musical and many short stories.

David tied his horse to a tree and scampered down the cliffs to Paul s side. There was nothing that David could do about Paul s horse. He carried no gun so as to shoot the poor animal to put it out of its misery. It would just have to lie there in agony until it died of its pain. Paul s broken arm was a hideous sight to see with the broken bone piercing out of the skin and flesh. His leg was all bloody also but David had no way of knowing if it was broken. When Paul saw David he said, "Thank God you re here, David. Call a doctor. Get me some help. I think I must be bleeding to death." But David didn t move. Instead he looked up at the coast road to see if anyone was around. He noticed a giant boulder sitting precipitously three or four feet from where Paul was lying. Then he scanned the road again. Then David did a most incredible thing. He calmly and quietly sat down on the ground next to Paul. Then he said, "There s no need for a doctor, Paul. I ve decided to kill you." "You re crazy. You re teasing me. You don t mean it. This is no time for empty threats." Paul was writhing in pain his whole face contorted by the agony he was going through. But as David sat there calmly gazing at his older brother, Paul was seized with panic. His voice was whimpering now. "David please don t tease me. Please get me a doctor or some help of some kind, dear boy, please." Never before in David s life had Paul called him "dear boy". Paul was definitely going through hell and excruciating pain. "I m sorry, Paul but I have to do it. You see, Paul, you are trying to destroy me, Julia, Tim and all of our heritage and I simply can t allow you to do it." Paul with the tears streaming down his face pleaded, "Look, David, I know that I have never been a very good brother to you but it ll be different now, you ll see. I ll make amends, I ll give you your share of Gramercy Park. I will never report you to the magistrates." David didn t move an inch. "I m sorry Paul, you must know that I would never trust you.