My dear old tutor's arm was round my shoulders, and I heard him murmur:
"My boy, my boy, I am proud of you."
I bent over my mother.
"Mother dear, don't cry, or I shall think you cannot forgive me. I will be King, and will try to rule as my father did."
She looked up then and smiled.
"I'm crying now because I am so happy."
None of us spoke for a few minutes; perhaps we needed the time to pull ourselves together. I did for one, then I said:
"Now that I have settled that I am going to be King, it might be advisable for Mr. Smith to give us any information on the subject which he thinks fit; but first I should like to know why he wished us to remain in Rudarlia?"
He considered a little before saying:
"Because the time is at hand: Ivan is on his deathbed. You must be there to take his place when he dies; I have everything arranged; they trusted me to produce the King."