“Is the Book of Laws at the Summer Palace or here?” she asked.
“I do not know,” said Armand, “I have never seen it except the day that the King read old Henry’s decree and offered me Hugo’s titles and estates.”
“Well, at least, he spoke of it to you to-day.”
Armand shook his head. “Never a word; neither to-day nor for many days.”
A faint frown showed between her eyes. “Didn’t he mention to you, this afternoon, the matter of the Succession?”
“No.”
She sat up sharply. “It can’t be he didn’t——”
The Archduke dropped on the floor at her feet and took her hand. “I assure you, Dehra, the King didn’t speak a single word to me on such a matter.”
“THE KING DIDN’T SPEAK A SINGLE WORD TO ME ON SUCH A MATTER.”