第19章

Etiquette seconded Fritz's hopes.While I was ushered into the princess's room, he remained with the countess in the ante-chamber: in spite of the people and servants who were hanging about, I doubt not that they managed a tete-a-tete;but I had no leisure to think of them, for I was playing the most delicate move in all my difficult game.I had to keep the princess devoted to me--and yet indifferent to me: I had to show affection for her--and not feel it.I had to make love for another, and that to a girl who--princess or no princess--was the most beautiful I had ever seen.Well, I braced myself to the task, made no easier by the charming embarrassment with which Iwas received.How I succeeded in carrying out my programme will appear hereafter.

"You are gaining golden laurels," she said."You are like the prince in Shakespeare who was transformed by becoming king.

But I'm forgetting you are King, sire."

"I ask you to speak nothing but what your heart tells you--and to call me nothing but my name."

She looked at me for a moment.

"Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf," said she."Why, as I told you, your very face is changed."I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked the topic; so I said:

"My brother is back, I hear.He made an excursion, didn't he?""Yes, he is here," she said, frowning a little.

"He can't stay long from Strelsau, it seems," I observed, smiling.

"Well, we are all glad to see him.The nearer he is, the better."The princess glanced at me with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

"Why, cousin? Is it that you can--?"

"See better what he's doing? Perhaps," said I."And why are you glad?""I didn't say I was glad," she answered.

"Some people say so for you."

"There are many insolent people," she said, with delightful haughtiness.

"Possibly you mean that I am one?"

"Your Majesty could not be," she said, curtseying in feigned deference, but adding, mischievously, after a pause: "Unless, that is--""Well, unless what?"

"Unless you tell me that I mind a snap of my fingers where the Duke of Strelsau is."Really, I wished that I had been the King.

"You don't care where cousin Michael--"

"Ah, cousin Michael! I call him the Duke of Strelsau.""You call him Michael when you meet him?""Yes--by the orders of your father."

"I see.And now by mine?"

"If those are your orders."

"Oh, decidedly! We must all be pleasant to our dear Michael.""You order me to receive his friends, too, I suppose?""The Six?"

"You call them that, too?"

"To be in the fashion, I do.But I order you to receive no one unless you like.""Except yourself?"

"I pray for myself.I could not order."

As I spoke, there came a cheer from the street.The princess ran to the window.

"It is he!" she cried."It is--the Duke of Strelsau!"I smiled, but said nothing.She returned to her seat.For a few moments we sat in silence.The noise outside subsided, but Iheard the tread of feet in the ante-room.I began to talk on general subjects.This went on for some minutes.I wondered what had become of Michael, but it did not seem to be for me to interfere.All at once, to my great surprise, Flavia, clasping her hands asked in an agitated voice:

"Are you wise to make him angry?"

"What? Who? How am I making him angry?""Why, by keeping him waiting."

"My dear cousin, I don't want to keep him--""Well, then, is he to come in?"

"Of course, if you wish it."

She looked at me curiously.

"How funny you are," she said."Of course no one could be announced while I was with you."Here was a charming attribute of royalty!

"An excellent etiquette!" I cried."But I had clean forgotten it;and if I were alone with someone else, couldn't you be announced?""You know as well as I do.I could be, because I am of the Blood;"and she still looked puzzled.

"I never could remember all these silly rules," said I, rather feebly, as I inwardly cursed Fritz for not posting me up."But I'll repair my fault."I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced into the ante-room.

Michael was sitting at a table, a heavy frown on his face.

Everyone else was standing, save that impudent young dog Fritz, who was lounging easily in an armchair, and flirting with the Countess Helga.

He leapt up as I entered, with a deferential alacrity that lent point to his former nonchalance.I had no difficulty in understanding that the duke might not like young Fritz.