"They are mighty strong cards, Armand," he said.
"And a mighty strong player holds them," I added. "More's the pity."
He nodded. "I saw the lady this afternoon in the Park. I rather fancy
almost any man would be quite willing to have her claim him as her
husband."
"And, therefore, her story will be very generally accepted," I said.
"Doubtless--it's far easier to accept it than to disbelieve it."
"Consequently, if it please you, Sire, let my betrothal to Her Royal
Highness remain secret until this woman's claim has been thoroughly
disproved."
Frederick thought a moment. "You are entirely right," he said; "and,
particularly, since, under old Henry's Decree, she would be your legal
wife--assuming, that is, that you had married her." Then he smiled.
"You see, sir, the very thing you were so insistent upon, now works to
your disadvantage. If it were not for that Decree you could laugh at
this woman. I could simply pronounce her morganatic, and you would be
quite free to marry Dehra, at once."
But I shook my head. "I must bring Dehra a clean record," I said; "and
I have no fault to find with that Decree. But for it, I would not be
here--though, neither would Madame Spencer," I added inadvertently.
The King stared at me.
"You don't think she knows the Decree," he exclaimed.
"I think she never heard of the Laws of the Dalbergs," I answered. "I
mean that it was my being here that brought her."
Again the King smiled.
"What you mean is that she would not be here but for the fact that by
Henry's Decree she would be your lawful wife and I powerless to
interfere."
I made no answer. I was rather anxious for him to pursue the premise
to its conclusion.
"You see where that deduction leads," he went on: "only Dehra and
Lotzen know the Laws of our House."
"I ask Your Majesty to observe that I have made no deduction," I said.
He stopped short and looked at me, a moment.
"Quite right," he said; "and it's proper you should not to me. But, I
suppose you will concede it was not the Princess."
"Certainly," I agreed.
"Ergo--it must have been----"
"I stop at the Princess," said I.
He sat silent, frowning very slightly.
"If I were quite sure that Lotzen were the instigator of this plot, I
would remove him utterly from the line of succession and banish him
from the Kingdom."