I hastened to the door, saluted the King, and greeted the Princess and
Courtney.
"I am honored over much," I said--then watched their actions, as they
saw Mrs. Spencer.
Frederick stopped short, frowned, then turned to me interrogatingly.
Courtney raised his eyebrows, bowed to Mrs. Spencer, and, then, gave me
a quizzical smile. Dehra flouted her enemy with one of those
deliberately ignoring stares; then, she smiled at me, and went over and
sat down at my desk.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Spencer stood near the table; one hand resting on it,
the other holding up her gown. The attitude was most becoming and
effective--and she knew it. So far as her bearing showed, the
situation was the most natural imaginable. And, chancing to catch my
eye, she actually gave me her most fetching smile.
She got a stare in answer, and I turned to the King.
"I have told Your Majesty of a Mrs. Spencer, who claims to be my wife,"
I said. "She has sought an audience with the Governor of Dornlitz, and
demanded to know why orders have been issued that she be refused exit
from the city. I offered to explain, if she, on her part, would
disclose her reasons for coming to Valeria. She refused, and was about
to depart, when, seeing Your Majesty, she suddenly changed her mind and
agreed to bargain. Have we your permission to proceed?"
The King understood the situation, instantly--and I could detect a bit
of a smile under his grey moustache.
"Be seated, madame," he said. "I am interested--unless, of course, you
do not care for us to hear it."
She dropped him a wonderful courtesy--acquired, doubtless, in her
French Convent school.
"Your Majesty is more than welcome to every word of my story," she
answered, with ready frankness. "The Grand Duke Armand knows it quite
as well as I; though he affects otherwise, because it pleases him to
pretend that I am not his wife."
"My dear madame," the King said, "you are not to tell me anything. You
are simply graciously permitting me to be present when you carry out
the bargain you have just made with the Governor of Dornlitz."
She smiled very sweetly at the King; then, turned to me.
"Will you begin, Armand," she said.
I bowed. "After you, madame," said I. "And, perchance, when I have
heard your story, I may revoke the order."
She smiled disdainfully--then, addressed the King:
"I consented to this exchange only because Your Majesty would, thus,
hear at least some truth as to this marriage. I confess, however, I am
surprised that Major Dalberg permits it to be disclosed."
She turned to me with affected hesitation.
"Are you quite sure, Armand, you really want me to tell it?" she asked.