He turned and put his hand on my shoulder. "I've had plenty like you, lad," he said kindly.
I laughed. "Then I may not hope for a place at Court?" I asked—and straightway wondered why I had asked it.
We had just come to a small door, before which paced a soldier of the Guard, and the King made no reply until we were in his private library and he had motioned me to a chair and an assortment of pipes and cigars.
"It was something of that sort that I want to discuss with you, if I may," he said.
"If you may?" I echoed.
He nodded. "You are a subject of the United States and a representative of its government at my Court."
"I had forgotten their significance," I admitted.
"But, with your permission, we can lay aside our officialism and hold a family conference."
The idea of my holding a family conference with the King of Valeria! I smiled involuntarily; and Frederick saw it.
"Don't you feel quite at home in the family, yet, my lad?" he asked.