“Really, that is a question which I have not considered. It is hardly for me to teach the King’s Ministers their duty to the King.”
The Chancellor felt disconcerted. He began to repent of his over-cautious tactics in their previous conversation. He saw that he was now in the position of one asking for assistance, and that the Princess realised, and was preparing to take advantage of, that fact.
“Perhaps,” he responded, “I am presuming on your goodness in discussing with me other proceedings of his Majesty during the last few days. I think I understood you to confide in me that you had entertained certain fears as to his—”
“Fears as to his marriage. Certainly,” put in the Princess quickly, as the old courtier hesitated.
“Pardon me, Madam, I think you even went a little further,” he retorted, determined not to be put off. “Unless I deceived myself, I understood that your Royal Highness felt some alarm as to his Majesty’s conduct generally—alarm which had reference to the unhappy calamity which has overtaken other members of the Royal House.”
This was plain speaking at last. Hermengarde carefully restrained herself from any display of eagerness.
“Perhaps I spoke more rashly than I should have done; but I felt that with such an old friend as yourself, and such a loyal servant of the King, I could unburden my mind quite freely. However, you did not share my anxiety on that score, and I trust you have dismissed my words from your mind.”
“Again pardon me; no. On the contrary, I have most carefully weighed and considered them, and particularly so in the light of this last singular freak on the King’s part.”
The Princess was a woman. She could not resist the temptation of a sneer.
“I see. It is the King’s conduct in abandoning your counsels for those of Herr Mark which has opened your eyes.”