"I've had a letter from papa, Othomar."
"From papa?"
"Yes.... Have you never thought of ... Valérie?"
He reflected for a second:
"Perhaps," he laughed.
"Do you feel no affection for her?"
"Certainly, aunt.... I thought papa preferred the Grand-duchess Xenia?"
The queen shrugged her shoulders:
"There's the question of her religion, you know. And papa would be just as glad of an Austrian alliance.... How do you propose to make the journey? And when do you start?"
"Ducardi and the others will be here this week. Towards the end of the week. First to Copenhagen, London, Brussels, Berlin and then to Vienna."