I was sitting alone in the library late that night when Courtney came
in. He had been to some function at the French Embassy, from which I
had begged off, and seemed surprised to see me.
"Taps are a bit late to-night," he remarked, pouring a measure of
Scotch and shooting in the soda.
"I've been thinking," I answered.
"For Heaven's sake. Major," he began--then put down his glass and
looked at me curiously.
"You were about to say?" I questioned.
He glanced at the clock. "When a man of your age sits up thinking
until two in the morning it is either financial trouble or love."
"My finances are all right," I volunteered.
"Ergo," said he, and began to sip his Scotch.
"And I'm not----" then I stopped--"in the marrying class, you know," I
ended.
"It's a pity to have such excellent raw material go to waste," he
commented, and smiled.
"The truth is, Courtney, I waited up for you."
He put down his glass again. "Business?" he inquired, quickly.
"Anything amiss?"
I shook my head; "It's nothing amiss diplomatically; but it is business
in a way; only, it's my personal business. I want your advice."
He looked at me, sharply, an instant. "Drive on, old man; I'm all
attention," he said.
"I've been at the Summer Palace," I began.
He nodded.
"And breakfasted with the Princess Royal," I went on.
"Alone! Be careful, my dear Major," he cautioned.
"Lady Helen Radnor was there; and the King also, for a bit," I
explained.
"Good," said he; "you are progressing famously."
"Oh, it was all accidental."
He smiled broadly.
"I went for an early morning ride; Lady Helen happened to overtake me;
we chanced upon the Princess; she asked us to breakfast; and the King
came in during the meal."
Courtney was studying the point of a paper-cutter. "Very wonderful,
indeed," he commented.
"What; the paper-cutter?" I asked, a trifle impatiently.
"No; the series of accidents."
"They are only preliminary."
"Preliminaries are often most important."
"Not here," said I. "What I want to consult you about is this: The
King has asked me to accept the titles of old Hugo, and to take my
place at Court."
Courtney laid the paper-cutter carefully on the blotter, and drawing
out his cigarette case, he selected one and slowly lit it. I knew his
way and waited patiently.
"And Lotzen--and the Crown?" he said presently.
"Do you care for the whole story?" I asked.
"Yes, let me have it all," and, settling back in his chair, he closed
his eyes and prepared to listen.
Then I told him everything of the meeting with the King in his library,
repeating, as well as I could remember, Frederick's exact language,
describing his attitude toward me and his evident desire in the matter.
"That is the situation and the problem," I ended, "and the answer is
due to-morrow, I am to dine at the Summer Palace."
Courtney sat up and began to polish his eye-glasses. "I assume you
have made no decision?" he asked presently.
"If I had," said I, "I would have gone to bed."
He nodded and kept on at the eye-glasses. At last they seemed to suit
him, and he shoved them into place and lit another cigarette.
"It seems to me," he said, at length, "the matter is wholly one of
personal inclination; with no obligation upon you to decide it upon any
other basis. Therefore, the first question is simply this: Which do
you prefer to be--an American officer and citizen or a Valerian
Archduke?"
"That is just what I don't know," said I.
"Well, would it be any easier to answer if I were to add: 'With a
chance for the Crown'?"
"That complicates it even more, I think."
He looked at me hard for a moment. I knew he was thinking of the
Princess and I shook my bead.
"Better look at it only on the first proposition," he said: "'an
American officer or an Archduke.'"
"If I accept," said I, "I shall play for all the stakes."
"Of course," said he, "but you may lose."
"It is more than likely I shall."
"Yet, even if you do, you will still be the Archduke," he argued.
"I think I would not accept it without the other chances," I said.
"Yet you would adventure those very chances without being sure of the
Archdukeship?" he insisted.