It was the Iron King"s own fault for not coming to the table when the meal was first prepared to order. But he would not admit that into consideration. He ordered the waiter to take everything away and throw it out of doors, declared that he would have a restaurant started on the opposite side of the street where a man could get a decent meal, and rose from the table in a rage.
It was while the Iron King was in this amiable and promising state of mind that a waiter brought in a card and laid it before him. He took it up and read aloud:
"The Duke of c.u.mbervale."
"Show him in," said Mr. Rockharrt.
A few minutes later the visitor entered the parlor, bowed to his host, and then shook hands with the two younger men, whom he had not seen since the evening before.
"So you braved the storm after all, duke? You found the old house too dreary for a long, rainy day. Take a seat," said Mr. Rockharrt, waving his hands majestically around the chairs.
"No; it was not the weather that made Rockhold insupportable to me. But, sir, I have come a long way for a great disappointment," said the rejected lover.
"What! what! what! Explain yourself, if you please, sir!" exclaimed the Iron King, bending his heavy gray brows over flashing eyes.
"Mrs. Rothsay has rejected me."
"What! what! Rejected you! Why, your engagement was declared in the family conclave only last night."
"Mrs. Rothsay states that the declaration was erroneous, and that no such engagement ever has been or ever could be made between us."
"How dare she say that? How dare she try to break off with you in this scandalous manner? But she shall not! She shall keep faith with you or she is no granddaughter of mine! I will have nothing to do with false women! How did this breach occur? Tell me all about it!
Fabian--Clarence! Go about your business. I want to have some private conversation with the duke."
The two younger men, thus summarily dismissed, nodded to the visitor and left the room, glad enough to go down below to the saloon and get something to eat and drink.
"Now, then, sir, what"s the row with my granddaughter?" demanded the Iron King, wheeling his chair around to face his visitor.
"There is no "row,"" said the young man, with the faintest possible hint of disgust in his tone and manner. "Mrs. Rothsay rejects me, positively, absolutely. She repudiates the announcement of our betrothal as unauthorized and erroneous."
"But you know, as we all know, that she was engaged to you! Yes; and she shall keep her engagement. I"ll see to that!"
"Pardon me, Mr. Rockharrt, I am grieved to say that you have made a mistake. The lady was right. There was no engagement, between Mrs.
Rothsay and myself at the time you made that announcement, nor has there been one since, nor, I fear, can there ever be."
"Sir!" exclaimed the Iron King, rising in his wrath. "Did you not come to this country for the express purpose of asking my granddaughter"s hand in marriage? Did I not promise her hand to you in marriage?"
"You did, provi--"
"Then if that did not const.i.tute an engagement, I do not know what does--that is all. But some people have very loose ideas about honor.
You ask the hand of my granddaughter; I bestow it on you, and announce the fact to my family."
"Pardon me, Mr. Rockharrt, you promised me the hand of your granddaughter, provided she should be willing to give it to me."
""Provided" nothing of the sort, sir. I gave her hand unconditionally, absolutely, and announced the betrothal to the family."
"But, my dear Mr. Rockharrt, the lady"s consent is a most necessary factor in such a case as this," urged the young man, who began to think that the despotic egotism of the Iron King had in these later years grown into a monomania, deceiving him into the delusion that his power over family and dependants was that of an absolute monarch over his subjects. This opinion was confirmed by the next words of the autocrat.
"Of course her consent would follow my act. That was taken for granted."
"But, sir, her consent did not follow your act. Quite the contrary; for my rejection followed it. It is of no use to multiply words. The affair is at an end. I have bidden good-by to Mrs. Rothsay. I am here to say good-by to you."
"You cannot mean it!"
"I have left Rockhold finally. I shall leave North End by this six p.m.
train, en route for the South," continued the rejected lover.
"Then, by ----! if she has driven you out of my house, she shall go herself! I have done the best I could for the woman, and she has repaid me by ingrat.i.tude and rebellion. And she shall leave my house at once!"
exclaimed the despot in a tone of savage resolution.
"Mr. Rockharrt, I must beg that you will not visit my disappointment on the head of your unoffending granddaughter."
"Duke of c.u.mbervale, you must not venture to interfere with me in the discipline of my own family. I don"t very much like dukes. I think I said that once before. I rejected you for my granddaughter two years ago when she was bound to Rule Rothsay. Now that she is a widow and is free, I accepted your suit and bestowed her on you, not that I like dukes any better now than I did then, but I like you better as a man."
The young duke bowed with solemn gravity at this compliment, repressing the smile that fluttered about his lips. At this moment a waiter entered the room, and said that "the gentleman"s" servant had arrived with his master"s luggage, and requested to know where it was to be put.
"Tell him to get his dinner, and then take the luggage in the same carriage to the station," said the duke, and the messenger withdrew.
"Have you lunched, duke?" inquired Mr. Rockharrt, mindful, even in his rage, of his duties as a host.
"I have not thought of doing so," replied the young man.
"Umph! I suppose not!" grunted the Iron King, as he rang the bell.
A waiter appeared.
"Any game in the house?"
"Yes, sir; fine venison."
"Don"t want venison--had it for breakfast. Anything else?"
"A very fine wild turkey, sir."
"Bother! Takes three hours to dress, and I want a hot lunch got up in twenty-five minutes, at longest. Any small game?"
"Uncommon fine partridges, sir."
"Then have a dozen dressed and sent up, with proper accompaniments; and lose no time about it! Also put a bottle of Johannisberg on ice."
"Yes, sir."
The waiter vanished.
"I must bid you good-by now, Mr. Rockharrt," said the duke, rising.
"No; you must not. Sit down. Sit down. You must lunch with me, and drink a parting gla.s.s of wine. Then you will have plenty of time to secure your train, and I to drive to Rockhold at my usual hour. Say no more, duke. Keep your seat."
c.u.mbervale looked at the iron-gray man before him, thought certainly this must be their last meeting and parting on earth, and that therefore he would not cross the patriarch in his humor.