"I had no reason to believe otherwise, sire," replied the ex-Regent smoothly. "He had been brought up as a strict vegetarian, and I cannot think that, if he had not acquired a taste for meat at your Majesty's table, he would ever have developed these—er—hereditary proclivities."
"He hasn't developed them!" declared Edna. "It's false! Ruprecht, deny it! Tell them you are no Ogre!"
"Really, ma'am," said the Duchess to Queen Selina, "I must ask your permission to leave the table. I don't feel as if I ought to be present at a family dispute of this intimate nature."
"Pray don't go, my dear Duchess!" the Queen implored her. "Not till you've heard what the Count has to say."
The Count rose and folded his arms in proud defiance. "I'm not an Ogre," he said sulkily.
"I knew it—I knew it!" cried Edna. "Appearances were against him, that's all!"
"Not an Ogre yet," went on the Count. "But I hope to be one as soon as I get the chance."
"No, no, Ruprecht!" protested Edna. "You don't mean it—you know you don't!"
"What!" said the Count, scowling at her. "Are you going to turn round on me like this, after encouraging me as you did?"
"You will not find it easy to persuade me," said the Duchess, "that the Princess would ever have urged you to become an Ogre."