She shrugged her shoulders most expressively.
"On your head be it, then," she answered. Then, addressing the King,
she went on. "When it was determined that Major Dalberg was to be the
American Military Attaché with the Valerian Army, he told me, for the
first time, of his kinship to Your Majesty. On my insistent urging, he
then decided to make a bid for your favor, to the end that you might
acknowledge his birth and restore to him the lost estates and titles of
his ancestor, Prince Hugo. Apprehending, however, that Your Majesty
would look with more kindness upon him as a bachelor than as a married
man, it was arranged that I should remain in America. Then, as soon as
the scheme had either succeeded or definitely failed, I was to be sent
for." She turned and looked at me. "It is rather needless to say--in
view of Monsieur Armand's present attitude toward me--that he never
sent for me. But I saw the accounts, in the daily Press, of the
wonderful story of an American Army Officer, Armand Dalberg, being, in
truth, a Prince of Valeria; and how he had been so accepted and
proclaimed by the King. I waited two weeks and more--for word from my
husband--then I came hither--and met the kind reception he gave me in
the Hanging Garden."
She paused an instant; then spoke to me:
"Is there anything material that I have omitted?" she asked.
"Naturally, I do not know, Mrs. Spencer," I answered; "but, judging
from your marvellous power of--invention, I should fancy not."
She turned aside the thrust with a smile.
"The bargain is, now, with you, monsieur," she said. "I await the
explanation of your order."
"It is very simple, Mrs. Spencer," I said curtly; "so simple, indeed, I
am quite sure you guessed it, long ago."
Her smile still lingered.
"The bargain, sir, the bargain!"
"I issued the order, madame, because you have falsely proclaimed
yourself my wife, and I intend to confine your acting as such within
the limits of this town. So long as you pose as my wife you will never
pass the gates of Dornlitz."
"In other words, I am to be prisoner for life," she said.
"That is for you to determine," I answered.
She studied my face, a bit.
"I suppose you want me to consent to a divorce," she said.
"Divorce implies marriage," I answered.
She shook her head and smiled tolerantly.
"I really can't promise to die just to accommodate Your Highness," she
said.