I pulled on my cigar and tried to think. But, on every cloud of smoke, I
seemed to see the Princess; and all my brain knew was the single idea:
"It will bring me within reach of her." I got up sharply and paced the
room, until I threw off the foolish notion and could look at the matter
in its true proportions.
"Tell me, Your Majesty," I said, "if I accept, will I be regarded as a
legitimate descendant of the House of Dalberg or as of a morganatic
marriage?"
The King nodded. "I had anticipated that would be your first question.
You will be legitimate."
"But," said I, "if I understand the canons of royalty, my
great-grandfather having married one not of royal rank his descendants
are, as regards the House of Valeria, illegitimate."
"As a general proposition that is true; but it happens that your case is
a peculiar exception."
"I am glad," said I; "otherwise we had reached an end of the matter."
"That, Major, is one of your American notions," said the King; "there is
no disgrace in morganatic marriages."
"It's all a question of national taste," said I; "and you know, sire,
'_de gustibus non_'----"
He drummed with his fingers a moment on the table.
"I have some unhandy views, possibly," said I.
"Oh, you will soon outgrow them," he returned; "only, it may be a trifle
awkward if you parade them."
"But, maybe, I shall not care to outgrow them." I objected. "And, then,
there is another notion--American, too, doubtless--which I fear will be a
final bar."
"Nonsense, Armand," said the King, a bit sharply. "What other objection
can even an American raise?"
"This, sire," said I: "When Hugo left Dornlitz his estates were
forfeited, his titles were revoked and his name was stricken from the
family roll. How can he now, after a century and a quarter, be
rehabilitated?"
"The King, as Head of our House, has full power."
"Yes, I know; his power in the family is limitless, save that he may not
change the succession to the Crown in favor of a female--more's the pity.
But, while Your Majesty may make me a Duke, or even a Prince, yet that
will not give back to Hugo the rights he was deprived of by his arbitrary
father."
The King smiled indulgently. "For an American you have a large fund of
sentiment."
"That is the Dalberg in me, doubtless," I replied.
"Then, sir. I understand that--because your great-grandfather didn't
live for one hundred and forty years and so be able now to receive, in
the flesh, the edict of restoration--you, his eldest male heir, refuse to
accept your rights; the rights that come to you through him?"
"No, that's not exactly it; it's this: For Your Majesty, now, to restore
me to the Family Roll, can be done only upon the hypothesis that all of
Hugo's descendants have been debruised by the bar sinister--the very act
of restoration presupposes such disqualification."
"You forget I said you were legitimate," said the King.
"By your grace; not by old Henry's," I objected.
"But, recall that Hugo himself was offered his titles and rights by his
brother and that he declined them."
"Yes; that is just the point," said I: "he declined them."
Frederick took a fresh cigar and lit it carefully, blowing the smoke in
tiny rings to the ceiling.
"I think I understand now," he said. "You will decline our offer because
it necessitates the restoration now, of Hugo's descendants, to the Family
Roll?"