"She has incapacitated half my military household with lacerated hearts
or, indirectly, with punctured bodies; there is small difference."
"Better have only married officers," I suggested.
"Lord, sir, they are the first victims. Immunes are what I want."
"Like myself, for instance," said I.
He turned and put his hand on my shoulder. "I've had plenty like you,
lad," he said kindly.
I laughed. "Then I may not hope for a place at Court?" I asked--and
straightway wondered why I had asked it.
We had just come to a small door, before which paced a soldier of the
Guard, and the King made no reply until we were in his private library
and he had motioned me to a chair and an assortment of pipes and cigars.
"It was something of that sort that I want to discuss with you, if I
may," he said.
"If you may?" I echoed.
He nodded. "You are a subject of the United States and a representative
of its government at my Court."
"I had forgotten their significance," I admitted.
"But, with your permission, we can lay aside our officialism and hold a
family conference."
The idea of my holding a family conference with the King of Valeria! I
smiled involuntarily; and Frederick saw it.
"Don't you feel quite at home in the family, yet, my lad?" he asked.
"It is not Your Majesty's fault if I don't," said I; "but royalty is a
bit new and strange to me."
He laughed heartily. "You are quite too modest, Armand. You spoke of a
place at Court; would you accept one?"
"Surely, sire, you knew I was only jesting!" I exclaimed.
"Of course," said he; "but I'm not. I am entirely serious."
"I suppose," said I, "I'm as ambitious as most men."
"A little more so, if you're a good Dalberg," the King interjected.
"But am I a good Dalberg?"
He waved his hand toward a mirror in the wall. "Use your eyes," he said.
"I don't mean physically," I objected.
"I am very willing to trust Nature. She didn't give you old Henry's body
and then mock it with inferior abilities."