"My brother----"
"Oh, Nicholas is invaluable," the King declared, lightly. "He can tell me what to say to the men, but it is in receiving the women I need your help."
"The Baroness Kolashin is as well acquainted with our countrywomen as I," Marie answered. "I did not doubt but that her aid would be sufficient."
"The Baroness," Ughtred answered, "has done her best; but another hour by her side would rob me of the few wits I have left. I should like to know for what special sin I was committed to her charge."
Marie shrugged her shoulders ever so slightly, but she did not smile.
"I am at your Majesty"s service," she said.
Ughtred was puzzled. In what manner had he offended her?
"If my message seemed to you peremptory," he said, "will you not ascribe it to my desire to taste the full measure of my powers? I know nothing of the privileges of a king save what I have read in books.
But it seems to me that included amongst them must surely be the privilege of choosing one"s companions--and one"s friends."
"Your Majesty," Marie answered, "may find that a rash a.s.sumption. It may lead to disappointment. Friends are scarcely to be made in a day, or to order. You must send for some of those whom you have left behind in England."
He looked at her, curious to know if anything lurked behind those words.
"Mine has not been the sort of life," he said, quietly, "which leads to the making of friendships. I have been a wanderer always, and a lonely one. I had hoped to fill the empty places--here."
There was a note of appeal in his tone--dignified, yet not in a sense without pathos. He glanced at Nicholas, but he looked first at Marie.
A faint touch of colour flushed her cheeks. Her manner was visibly softened.
"I trust that your Majesty may not be disappointed," she said. And her eyes fell before his for the first time.
A crash of music reminded them of those who still waited to bow before the King. So they pa.s.sed out into the great ballroom, and mounting the dais, Marie stood on the King"s left hand. The room was a blaze of light, of brilliant uniforms and beautiful dresses. At ten o"clock, Reist came up with a look of relief upon his face, and a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
"The English Minister and his wife, your Majesty," he murmured. "It is excellent. The others will follow."
The news spread. A little flutter of joy rippled through the room. The coming of this dignified, kindly old man, with his grey hair and single decoration, was the one thing needed. Theos had taken to herself a King, asking leave of no one, but the countenance of some at least of the Powers was a vital thing. At the informal coronation, rushed through by Reist and his friends, not one of the Ministers had been present. Domiloff, with smooth face and with many lying regrets, had presented an interdictory note from Russia, but owing to the peculiar conditions prevailing there had not been until after the coronation any properly-appointed person to receive it. The late foreign Minister had refused it with a smile and a polite word of regret, and his example had been followed by every member of the Royalist party. There was, they explained, at the moment no government, no officials, no Minister. Their various appointments were arranged for and would be confirmed immediately after the coronation. Until then they were only private persons. So Domiloff, with a suave jest and a shrug of his shoulders, shut himself up in his house, while the cathedral bells clashed and the cannon roared from the walls.
The English Minister was followed in quick succession by the representatives of France and Austria, and with their coming a certain sense of restraint pa.s.sed away from the brilliant a.s.semblage. Before there had been a certain sense of unreality in the whole thing. The tone of the rejoicings had been feverish--who could tell but that in a week this thing might not have pa.s.sed away like a mirage. Now a heartier note altogether prevailed, especially amongst the men. There were no more side glances, or shrugged shoulders--the volcano no longer trembled beneath their feet. Dancing commenced, and the King stood up with Marie of Reist. At supper she remained on his right hand. Many people spoke to Reist of this.
"It is excellent, Duke," declared old Baron Kolashin, once Commander-in-Chief of the Army. "Theos needs no outside alliance. It means only entanglement. That," he inclined his head to where Marie and the King were talking, "will send Theos crazy with joy."
Reist shook his head.
"You antic.i.p.ate, my dear Kolashin," he answered. "Our Court circle is, as you know, small, and Marie"s rank ent.i.tles her to receive. But this is only their second meeting. I am sure that as yet no such idea has entered the King"s head."
Kolashin twirled his fierce moustache, and smiled knowingly.
"Eh, but my friend, there is a report that they have drunk together from the King"s cup. How about that?"
"It is true," Reist admitted, "but the King knows nothing of the history of the cup. His offer was one of gallantry--no more. They were children together."
The general chuckled.
"Marie is a beautiful girl," he said. "There is none like her in Theos. Eh, but if I were young again."
He went off smiling to himself.
Reist was touched on the arm by Brand.
"May I speak to you for a moment, Duke?"
"By all means."
"There is still one of the foreign Ministers absent besides Domiloff."
Reist nodded.
"Effenden Pascha. There is yet time, however."
"Effenden Pascha is not coming," Brand said.
Reist eyed him sharply.
"How do you know that?"
"I was at the palace gates," Brand answered, "when Effenden Pascha drove up. He was on the point of entering when he was accosted by our friend Domiloff."
Reist"s face grew black as night.
"The hound!" he murmured. "Go on!"
"They stayed talking for five minutes or more. Eventually they both reentered Effenden Pascha"s carriage and were driven off."
"The wolf and the dog," Reist cried, fiercely. "Let them beware how they bark at the gates of Theos."
He was white almost to the lips with anger. Brand watched him curiously.
"I do not believe that you people like the Turks," he remarked.
Reist turned upon him with a sudden violent gesture. His voice was low, but charged with pa.s.sionate hate.
"Like them! To us they are as vermin, a pest upon the face of the earth. You wonder why! I tell you that it is because we know them, because their border villages are in touch with ours, we know their life and the manner of it. I could tell you things which you dare not put in print; stories which, if English people read in your paper they would brand you a liar. So, my friend, Brand, believe this. There is not a true Thetian breathing who would not rather die himself and kill his wife and children than that the Turks should enter Theos....
Pardon me!"
He moved away with a quick, expressive gesture. Brand remained in his corner, and presently the King with Marie of Reist upon his arm pa.s.sed by. They paused before him.
"Come, Brand," Ughtred remarked, "why so thoughtful? You must dance, my friend."
"Your Majesty," Brand answered, "I was pondering upon the inequalities of life. Yesterday I was a King, and a most uncomfortable position it was! To-day you are King--and"--he glanced at Marie--"it is a trial to one"s disposition to refrain from envy."
Marie detached her hand softly from the King"s sleeve.
"So gallant a speech, sir," she said, smiling, "must be rewarded. You have not yet asked me to dance!"