The King followed hard upon the footsteps of his seneschal, and
neither Reist nor Marie was wholly at ease in the first moments of
greeting. It was the latter to whom the King addressed himself.
"My visit, Countess," he said, "is to you. I am fortunate in finding
you at home."
"Your Majesty is very kind!" Marie answered.
"I have come," he continued, "to demand an explanation from you--or
rather to beg for it. You have been absent from all our gatherings at
the palace lately. I came to assure myself that we had not unwittingly
offended you, or to ask you how we can render them sufficiently
attractive to insure your presence."
Marie was taken unawares both by the King's visit and by the
directness of his questioning. It was Nicholas who answered for her.
"Your Majesty," he said, "my sister does not enjoy the best of health.
I was even now endeavouring to persuade her to spend a few weeks at
the castle. The mountain air is always good for her."
"Your sister's appearance, then," the King replied, "much belies her
condition. I have never seen her looking better."
"Nevertheless, my brother is right, your Majesty," Marie said. "I have
decided to leave Theos for a while."
The King bowed.
"It is not amongst my prerogatives to question the movements of my
subjects," he said, gravely, "but you must forgive me if I remember
that you and your brother are my earliest and best friends here. I
shall venture to ask you therefore if ill-health is your only reason
for desiring to absent yourself from the Court?"
Nicholas intervened. He rose and held back the curtains which led into
another suite of rooms. Marie understood, and with a quick courtesy
rose from her seat.
"Your Majesty," Nicholas said, "with your permission I will return
your candour. The subject is one which we can best discuss in my
sister's absence."
Marie passed out. Nicholas let fall the curtains.
"Your Majesty," he said, "only a short while ago, as your counsellor,
and as one who has the interests of Theos greatly at heart, I ventured
to allude to a somewhat delicate subject--to your marriage."
The King nodded.
"Well?"
"I must take the liberty of reminding your Majesty of your first visit
here on your arrival at Theos. We drank wine together in this room,
the Royal betrothal cup was filled for you, and notwithstanding my
remonstrances, at your particular desire my sister drank with you from
that cup. Its history and associations were known to you."
The King rose up.
"But----"
"Your Majesty will permit me," Reist interrupted. "It was doubtless
an act of thoughtless good-nature on your part, but we Thetians hold
fast by our old traditions, and regard them as sacred things. The news
of this leaked out, and the marriage of your Majesty and the Countess
of Reist has been freely talked of throughout the State. Your Majesty
will perceive, therefore, that my sister's position at Court naturally
became a trying one, especially as her rank entitles her always to the
place by your side."
Ughtred was silent for several moments. A frown of perplexity spread
itself over his face.
"Reist," he said slowly, "your sister is very charming, and I have a
great admiration for her. Yet I must admit this. The idea which you
have suggested is an altogether new one to me. I did not, for one
moment, imagine that she or you or any one would attach any
significance to what I looked upon at the time as a harmless little
ceremony."
Reist bowed low.
"To the people of Theos," he said, "these ancient customs are sacred.
Your Majesty will permit me to proceed. There is a further development
which has also a bearing upon the situation. I refer to the advent of
Mr. and Miss Van Decht."
The King raised his eyebrows.
"And how does this matter concern," he asked, "my very good friends,
the Van Dechts?"
"Your Majesty," Nicholas answered, "has admitted them, considering
their position, or I should say their lack of position, to a somewhat
surprising familiarity. This too has given rise to much comment in the
city. Miss Van Decht is a very beautiful young woman, and your
Majesty has treated her publicly with great consideration, almost as
an equal. Your Majesty must bear with our prejudices. This is not a
democratic country. We hold by our rank and its obligations, and we do
not consider an American retired tradesman and his daughter people
whom we can meet habitually on terms of equality--even at the Court of
the King."
Ughtred rose from his chair, and his mouth was set and grim.
"I am obliged to you for your frankness, Nicholas," he said. "I will
endeavour to return it. Mr. Van Decht and his daughter are my very
good friends, and their position at my Court is that of valued and
welcome associates. It seems to me that whom the King can treat as
equals his nobles may endure as companions. But in any case I desire
to say this to you and to the aristocracy of Theos, whose opinions
you doubtless express. In the matter of my friends, as in the matter
of taking a wife when the time may come, I do not permit any
interference, and if any be offered I shall resent it. Further, if
any stay away from my Court for such reasons as you have hinted at I
shall esteem their absence a personal affront. Am I understood?"
Reist bowed in cold silence. The King took a quick step towards him
and laid his hand upon his arm.
"Nicholas," he said, "don't let me lose a good friend--you to whom I
owe my kingdom. Remember that I am a man as well as a King. I did not
promise to become a machine when I took the coronation oaths. I have
my likes and my dislikes--as you have. Bear with me a little."
Reist hesitated. There entered a messenger for the King.
"Your Majesty," he announced, "the Englishman Brand, is at the palace.
He desires an immediate audience."
Ughtred took up his cloak.
"I fear that it is ill news," he said. "Follow me, Reist."