The moment they were gone Maximilian put off the nephew, and became the King of Franconia.
“Madam,” he said sternly, “I have come to ask you for an explanation of the presence of the Fräulein Gitten in your apartments.”
And he flung himself into a chair without deigning to ask the Princess to follow his example.
But Hermengarde had been perfectly prepared for this inquiry, and did not allow herself to be disconcerted by her nephew’s rudeness.
“The Fräulein came here of her own accord, Sire,” she said, with cold dignity. “Though, I admit, I was guilty of the offence of telling her that she would find a welcome with me, if she should ever want to leave her father’s roof. I was rash enough to think you would rather know that a young girl in whom you were interested was safe under the protection of your uncle’s widow, than exposed to the brutal roughness of a drunken father, or wandering through the forest without a place in which to lay her head.”
“Brutal roughness! What do you mean, Madam? Be careful what you say.”
“It is my habit to be careful of what I say, and of what I do as well,” was the retort, in which the King detected a subtle innuendo which made him shrink. “But if you have not entire confidence in my words, I should be glad to be allowed to send for the Fräulein herself, whom your Majesty will perhaps believe when she tells you that she fled to me at midnight to escape from, as I understood her, the actual blows of this man Gitten.”
Maximilian was completely conquered. He rose to his feet, deeply agitated, and said—
“Aunt Hermengarde, I beg your forgiveness. I am much ashamed of myself to have judged your conduct so wrongly. But I am hardly myself; certain things which have happened lately have disturbed me very much.”
He paused, and glanced at her as if hesitating whether to take her into his confidence. But perhaps a subtle instinct warned him against such a step. The atmosphere of Courts breeds distrust; and whom should a king distrust more than those who will profit by his ceasing to wear the crown?