"Well, let's get back to things," he added, quickly changing his tone to drill-ground clangour. "Madame eliminated and there being no son——"
"Your Majesty desires me to leave the business jointly to Bertha and Barbara?" asked Krupp.
"Are there six crown princes or one?" inquired the War Lord in his turn, with affected calmness.
"I don't follow," said Herr Krupp.
The War Lord could hardly master his impatience. Still more raising his voice, he demanded abruptly: "Is Prussia to be divided into six petty Kingdoms when I die because I happen to have six sons, and a small principality besides for my daughter?"
Herr Krupp opened his eyes wide: "Your Majesty wants me to disinherit one of my children?"
"I want you to proclaim my godchild Bertha Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Cannon."
"But my other daughter——"
"Bertha is my goddaughter!" (with the emphasis on the "my").
"Can I ever forget the honour conferred upon my humble house?"