“It is unfortunately true,” the King repeated.
“He is stricken with illness suddenly?” Dartnoff asked.
The King shook his head.
“I regret to say that the resignation of the Duke of Reist is due to a personal matter between myself and him, in which he considers himself aggrieved.”
There was a moment’s silence. Quick glances were exchanged amongst the officers. Dartnoff was sorely puzzled.
“It was Nicholas of Reist who brought you here,” he said, slowly. “It was his word and advice—which——”
“Which made me King,” Ughtred continued. “That is so. General Dartnoff and you, gentlemen, do not think that I treat this matter lightly. It has been a great blow to me—a great shock. But, listen. The Duke of Reist has no cause of offence against me whatever. He has been deceived and misled, and I have a fancy that Domiloff, who they say is still lurking about Theos, is concerned in it.”
The General’s face grew graver than ever.
“Nicholas of Reist,” he said, “would never stoop to secret dealings with such men as Domiloff.”
“I hope and believe not myself,” the King answered promptly. “But such men as Domiloff work in the dark indirectly, and some one has poisoned the mind of Nicholas of Reist against me. But listen. I repeat that the matter is a personal one. For the moment it can well be left where it is. I will promise you this. After the war if Theos still exists and I am alive I will meet the Duke of Reist before you, General Dartnoff, and any three of our countrymen whom you may select, and you shall judge between us. If you find that I am in the wrong my abdication shall be at your service. If you decide in my favour the Duke of Reist’s apology and his hand will be sufficient for me. But, remember, that to-day we stand before the destinies of Theos. For God’s sake do not let your loyalty or your faith in me be affected by this deeply-to-be-deplored incident. To do so would be to play into the hands of those who have poisoned the mind of the Duke of Reist against me. Give me your trust a little longer, I beg of you.”