‘Better, I should say,’ rejoined another of the group, ‘judging from results.’
‘The natives would never stand it: every nabob wants it for himself.’
‘All cannot have it, that is very clear,’ remarked one of the party.
‘Better settle the matter by giving it to none of them, and choose a good stock from the country that ruled them, and made them what they are; and thus establish a Royal Line which will do them credit for all time,’ suggested the elderly minister, who was a Frenchman and a believer in women, and especially a believer in the beautiful Mercia.
CHAPTER VI
We must leave these gentlemen in the far East, and come back to Greenwich.
While the Emperor was returning to London he cast about in his mind for some way out of his difficulty.
He felt it was little use seeking the assistance of his royal consort, Catherine, daughter of Nicholas of Russia.
She would have little sympathy with him in his trouble, unless he could persuade her of his innocence of the charges that were being made against him.
Taking into consideration, too, that on that very morning he had quarrelled with her, and brutally told her that he heartily wished himself rid of her, it was at present, scarcely wisdom to seek her advice.