"We both have battled for an ideal, Count," he said, with a happy little laugh. "Here is mine. Here is what I have fought for!"
and crossing the room he went straight to Ailsa, with both hands outstretched to her and his face fairly beaming.
But it needed not the little shocked breath he heard upon all sides to dash that bright look from his face and to bring him to a sudden halt. For at his coming, Ailsa had dropped the deep curtsey which is the due of royalty, and was moving away from him backward, which is royalty"s due also.
"Ailsa!" he said, moving toward her with a sharp and sudden step.
"Ailsa, don"t be absurd. It is too silly to think that forms should stand with you, too. Take my hand--take it!"
"Your Majesty----"
"Take it, I tell you!" he repeated almost roughly. "Good G.o.d! do you think that this can make any difference? Take my hand! Do you hear?"
She obeyed him this time, but as her fingers rested upon his he saw that they were quite ringless--that the sign of their engagement had been removed--and caught her to him with a pa.s.sionate sort of fierceness that was a reproach in itself.
"Could you think so meanly of me? Could you?" he cried. "Where is the ring?"
"In my pocket. I took it off when--I heard."
"Put it on again. Or, no! Give it to me and let me do that myself--here, before them all. Kings must have queens, must they not? You were always mine: you are always going to be. Even the day of our wedding is not to be changed."
"Oh, hush!" she made answer. "One"s duty to one"s country must always stand first with--kings."
"Must it? Kings after all are only men--and a man"s first duty is to the one woman of his heart."
"Not with kings. There is a different rule, a different law. Oh, let me go--please! I know, I fully realize, it would be different with you--if it were possible. But--it is the penalty one must pay for kingship, dear. Royalty must mate with royalty, not with a woman of the people. It is the law of all kingdoms, the immutable law."
It was. He had forgotten that; and it came upon him now with a shock of bitter recollection. For a moment he stood silent, the colour draining out of his face, the light fading slowly from his eyes; then, of a sudden, he looked over the glittering room and across its breadth at Irma.
"It would not be possible then?" he asked.
"Not as a royal consort, sir. The people"s choice in that respect would lie with the hereditary princess of Danubia. I have already explained that to Mademoiselle. But if it should be your Majesty"s pleasure to take a morganatic wife----"
"Cut that!" rapped in Cleek"s voice like the snap of a whiplash. "So, then, one is to sell one"s honour for a crown; break a woman"s life for a kingdom, and become a royal adulterer for the sake of a throne and sceptre!"
"But, Majesty, one"s duty to one"s country is a sacred thing."
"Not so sacred as one"s redeemer, Count, and, under G.o.d, here is mine!" he threw back, heatedly. "Mauravania forgot once; she will forget again. She _must_ forget! My lords and gentlemen, I decline her flattering offer. My only kingdom is here--in this dear woman"s arms. Walk with me, Ailsa--walk with me always. You said you would.
Walk with me, dear, as my queen _and_ my wife."
And putting his arm about her and holding her close, and setting his back to the lights and the flags and the glittering Guard, he pa.s.sed, with head erect, through the murmuring gathering and went down and out with her--to the blue limousine--to the Yard"s service again--and to those better things which are the true crown of a man"s life.
At the foot of the steps Narkom and Dollops caught up with him, and the boy"s eager hand plucked at his sleeve.
"Guv"ner, Gawd love yer--Gawd love yer, sir; you"re a man, you are!"
he said with a sort of sob in his voice. "I"m glad you chucked it.
It was breakin" my heart to think that I"d have to call you "Sire"
all the rest of my days, sir--like as if you was a bloomin" horse!"