Sara Van Decht leaned back in her basket-chair and looked across the
cobbled street, across the trim square where the miniature fountain
was playing, to where a cluster of red-roofed, white-fronted houses
were huddled together in picturesque confusion.
"Well, I think it's delightful!" she exclaimed. "I never could have
imagined anything so picturesque--or so restful."
Mr. Van Decht scratched his chin thoughtfully and selected a cigar
from his case.
"It is restful," he admitted. "I can't say that I'm quite accustomed
to taking my meals upon the pavement, even under an awning, and there
is an odour of garlic about the hotel which I don't altogether relish.
I grant you that it is restful, though! There's no denying that!"
The girl laughed softly.
"Poor old dad," she exclaimed. "I guess it's selfish of me to drag you
all across Europe to this little bit of a country, but I couldn't help
it a bit. I positively must see Ughtred with a crown on his head and a
sceptre in his hand before we go back. It's too delicious. Now I
wonder how we ought to let him know that we are here."
"Telephone!"
She laughed again--laughed till the tears stood in her eyes.
"Father, you must try to be more mediaeval," she exclaimed. "Fancy
ringing up a king!"
"Send a boy round with a note then," he suggested, "or shall I stroll
round to the palace and let them know? I'd just as soon. It's only a
few minutes' walk."
"I will write," she decided, "but there is no hurry. We will go out
for a walk presently and look at these dear, quaint little shops.
There are heaps of things I want to buy."
Mr. Van Decht rose suddenly from his chair.
"Jehosophat!" he cried. "What's that?"
It was a horse-car, old-fashioned, rickety, with canvas awnings, drawn
wearily along by an aged horse. Mr. Van Decht eyed it with vast
curiosity.
"Jehosophat," he repeated. "I'd like to take that whole affair right
back with us and sell it to the first dime museum that'd give the
price. Look at the bonnet on the horse's head, Sara, and the bell! My,
how she bumps! I must have a talk with your King, Sara. My
number-three installation is what is wanted here with overhead wires
and forty Cambridge wagons. With cheap labour and water transport I
guess it would be a light contract. I'm going to board the next that
comes along, Sara, and get the thing into my head."
"The streets look very narrow and hilly for cars, father."
"Guess the whole place wants straightening out a bit," Mr. Van Decht
admitted. "If your King wants to make this place go, Sara, he's got
to imbibe a few Western notions, and the sooner the better."
"You shall talk to him," Sara remarked, with a little smile at the
corner of her lips. "I am sure that he will be interested."
"I guess I can give him some ideas," Mr. Van Decht remarked, puffing
vigorously at his cigar. "You'd better write that note, Sara."
"In a moment, father. It's so fascinating to watch these country
people with their baskets. Look! There is something you can't beat in
New York, anyhow."
Up the steep, narrow road came a company of horse-soldiers--a gay
sight--in flashing helmets, plumes, and the soft blue uniform of the
Thetian Guards. A band up at the palace played them in. The people
rushed to the right and to the left, lined the pavements and shouted a
greeting. Then suddenly every head was uncovered, and a little
respectful murmur rippled through the crowd.
"The King! Long live the King!"
Sara rose eagerly from her place at the table. They were virtually
upon the pavement--a little extended near the hotel and dotted about
with tiny round tables. It was Ughtred who rode at the head of the
little troop of soldiers, and suddenly their eyes met. A sharp word of
command broke from his lips. He dismounted and crossed the street
towards them, drawing off his heavy white gloves as he came.
"Welcome!" he cried. "Welcome to Theos."
He took Sara's hands in his and held them tightly.
"This," he said, "is charming of you. One moment!"
He beckoned to the officer who had been riding by his side, and gave a
few brief orders. The troop passed on. Reist and a younger man in dark
riding-clothes remained.
"If you will allow me," Ughtred said, "I will take a cup of coffee
with you. There is a garden here, I believe."
The hotel proprietor came hurrying out. Reist explained what was
required. They made their way into a semi-public garden, which was
instantly cleared of chance loiterers. A table was set in a shady
corner.
"Mr. Van Decht," Ughtred said, "I must shake hands with you. You are
most welcome. I appreciate your coming here immensely."
"My daughter," Mr. Van Decht explained, "has been set upon this trip
ever since your friend Brand began his letters upon Theos in the
_Daily Courier_. They have been very widely read, sir. We must
congratulate you upon having taken hold of your kingdom so firmly."
"You are very good," Ughtred answered. "Brand has been a God-send to
us. The position here has been fairly represented to England, and, in
fact, Europe, through his reports. He, too, will be delighted to see
you again. Miss Van Decht, you must allow me to present Captain
Hartzan of the Artillery--the Duke of Reist you already know. Now,
when did you arrive?"
"Last night," Sara answered. "That dear little train of yours brought
us from the frontier. We scarcely expected to see you so soon."
"It is my great good-fortune," Ughtred answered. "I go every morning
to the fortifications to direct the artillery practice. The Van Decht
battery has been in action this morning," he added, smiling.
"I presume, sir, that this is a warlike country!" Mr. Van Decht
remarked.
A shadow crept over the King's face.
"It is not our choice," he answered. "We are surrounded by dangerous
enemies, and we are a very small nation. Our security depends solely
upon our readiness to resist attack. For these last two months I have
had to forget that I am a King, and remember only that I am
Commander-in-Chief of our little army."
"I presume that you are not anticipating any immediate trouble, sir?"
Mr. Van Decht asked.
The King glanced round. Already he was learning the lesson of caution.
"The history of Theos," he said, "is doubtless unknown to you.
Turkey is our old and historic enemy, and her attitude towards us
just now is, to say the least of it, threatening. We trust to our
inoffensiveness and the good-will of the Powers to preserve our
independence, but we judge it best to be prepared so far as possible
to fight our own battles. Well, Crasten, what are you bringing us?"
The hotel proprietor bowed low, and filled some finely-cut glasses
with liqueur from a dusty and carefully cradled bottle.
"The fin champagne, your Majesty, was brought from the cellars of
Louis Philippe by my father. I trust your Majesty will approve."
Ughtred sipped it, and did approve. He accepted some coffee also, and
broke a roll in his fingers.
"This is my longest fast," he explained, laughing. "We ride out at six
to escape the heat. Part of my afternoon I spend at the barracks and
part at the House of Laws."
"It appears to me, sir, that you find pretty considerable to do," Mr.
Van Decht remarked. "I'd an idea that royalty had an easier time of
it."
"A good many people share that idea, Mr. Van Decht," Ughtred answered,
good-humouredly. "For myself, I never worked half so hard in all my
life. But then, it is work I love, and for my country, which is very
dear to me. Some day I hope, when things are more settled, to be able
to drop the military part of my labours, and give all my attention to
the development of my country."
Mr. Van Decht nodded. He was greatly enjoying the fin champagne.
"You're right there, sir," he declared. "Make a nation strong
commercially, and she'll hold her own in time against the world. I
guess you're a travelled man, sir, and you won't mind a stranger
remarking that in some ways you're a little behind the times here."
Sara's eyes twinkled with amusement. The young officer, who understood
a little English, glanced at Reist, and was speechless.
"You mustn't mind father," Sara exclaimed. "You know he's a terrible
democrat, and utilitarian to the backbone. He's dying to introduce
electric cars here and electric light."
"Why, you want them bad enough," her father admitted. "I don't suppose
we've a town of half the size in the States where we haven't both, and
this a capital city too."
"Mr. Van Decht is quite right," Ughtred said, gravely, "only one has
always to remember that this is a very poor country, and we can't
afford to pay for luxuries."
"I guess those cars would pay for themselves before long, sir," Mr.
Van Decht declared.
"It is very likely," Ughtred answered. "I'm sure that if any
capitalist were disposed to undertake the commercial part of it, there
would be very little difficulty about the concession."
Mr. Van Decht rose up briskly.
"If you'll excuse me, sir," he said, "I guess I'll hail that bobby
hutch and go the round."
The King laughed.
"You are a man of business, Mr. Van Decht," he said. "Certainly, go
and help yourself to all the information you can. Sara, if you will
come up with me I will show you the palace. I am afraid there is
nothing there to interest your father, but he will have many
opportunities of seeing it. Reist, will you see if the carriage has
come?"
For a moment they were alone.
They looked into one another's eyes, and Sara laughed softly.
"Why, this is just the queerest thing in the world," she murmured.
"What will happen to me at the palace if I forget to say 'your
Majesty,' and ought I to curtsey when I speak to you?"
Ughtred smiled back at her.
"I believe," he said, "that you ought to kiss--my hand."
"Then I guess I won't," she answered. "I believe I'm democrat enough
to expect----"
"What?"
He leaned over towards her, but the sentence was never finished. Reist
stood before them, and the look on his face was a forecast of coming
trouble.
"The carriage is here, your Majesty!" he announced.
[Illustration: "'I BELIEVE,' HE SAID, 'THAT YOU OUGHT TO KISS--MY
HAND.'"]