“Melnos?”
“No; the island of Melos, without the ‘n.’ It is a curious coincidence, is it not, the similarity of name and rule?”
“Very; but what became of King Capsi?”
“Oh, the Turks invited him to Stamboul, and then cut off his head for presuming to set himself up as a rival to the Sultan. But such a fate is not likely to happen to me, as I am very good friends with Abdul Hamid.”
“I think we had better establish a line of princes, uncle,” said Maurice in a joking tone. “You will take the title of Justinian I.; when I succeed to the throne, I will be Justinian II.; and if Helena and myself are fortunate enough to present you with a grandson, he will be Justinian III. So, you see, we have an excellent beginning for a royal family.”
“I do not see why it should not be so,” replied the Demarch seriously; “look at the Brookes, who became Rajahs of Sarawak, and the Bernadottes, now Kings of Sweden, and then again the Bonaparte family. My dear Maurice, believe me, there are still kingdoms to be gained, if he who seeks has the nerve, judgment, and fortune of a born adventurer.”
“Such as yourself.”
“Exactly; and you are of the same type. Oh, that I were younger, Maurice, and with you by my side, we would go to South America and carve out a kingdom. You smile, but I tell you it can be done.”
“It has been done in Melnos.”
“Oh, that is nothing! an intellectual training school only; but I mean a real large kingdom on a continent.”