"The white-haired one was the doctor who attended your Majesty's mother, at the time of your birth; the other two are Prince von Venoff and Baron von Casile."
He bowed as he spoke. I glanced round, as I was surprised at his ceremonious behaviour: the driver of the car was still in the room.
"Surely, Count," I said, "there is some one here whom I should know?" And I smiled towards the man.
"May I present, to your Majesty, Colonel Woolgast, who commands the body-guard?"
The Colonel bent to kiss my hand, but I prevented him; seized his instead, and shook it.
"Until I am King," I said, "I will shake your hand and call you 'Colonel'; when I am King, you shall kiss my hand, but I will call you 'General.'"
He became red with pleasure; and, by the twinkle in Mr. Smith's eye, I knew that I had done right to make a friend of this man.
Colonel Woolgast having left the room, I turned to Mr. Smith.
"Have you done anything about Prince Alexis?" I asked.
"I am sending a man to watch him. Woolgast will see to it that he does not enter the Royal apartments. In a little time you will have to receive a great number of people; I will be by your side to tell you what I can of them, to give you a better idea of what to say. All are devoted to Rudarlia. I am glad you said what you did to Woolgast, he is not titled, you know, and some rather snub him on that account; but he is a good man, loyal to a degree to his country."