Her contempt for the girl left no room for jealousy. Madame Ypsilante did not seem to care whether the King married or did not.
“I don’t think much of that plan,” said Gorman. “Your Emperor may be the everlasting boss you seem to think——”
“In the register of Lloyd’s,” said the King, “he takes place in the class A 1st.”
“But,” said Gorman, “he hasn’t much sense if he thinks that a girl like Miss Donovan can be married off in that way to any one he chooses to name. I’m not saying anything against your character, sir——”
“My Konrad,” said Madame Ypsilante, “is Konrad.”
“Exactly,” said Gorman. “Those are my points put concisely in two words. First he’s yours and next he’s himself. No. I don’t think that you’ve much chance of buying back the island, but you’ve no chance at all of marrying the girl.”
“I do not want either the one or the other,” said the King. “I do not care the cursing of a tinker, not a two-a-penny damn if I never put my eye on the island or the girl. Arrange which you prefer. I place both into your hands, my dear Gorman. I leave them there. I shall put my foot on the bill if you buy and the price is moderate. I shall toe the scratch if you arrange that I lead the American to the altar of Hymen. Settle, arrange, fix down which you will.”
Gorman gasped. He was always ready to give disinterested advice in the King’s affairs. He was even willing to lend a helping hand in times of difficulty; but he was startled at being asked to act as plenipotentiary for the sale of a kingdom or the negotiation of a royal marriage.
“Do you mean to say,” he said, “that you expect me to arrange the whole thing?”