There was a moment’s dead silence. Professor von Glauben gave a discreet cough to break it, and the King, reminded of his presence turned towards him.
“Has she no sense of the position?” he demanded.
“Sir, I have every reason to believe that she grasps it thoroughly!” replied Von Glauben with a deferential bow.
“Then why——”
But here he was again interrupted by the Queen. She, raising herself in her chair, her beautiful head and shoulders lifted statue-like from her enshrining draperies of azure and white, stretched forth a hand and beckoned Gloria towards her.
“Come here, child!” she said; then as Gloria advanced with evident reluctance, she added; “Come closer—you must not be afraid of me!”
Gloria smiled.
“Nay, Madam, trouble not yourself at all in that regard! I never was afraid of anyone!”
A shadow of annoyance darkened the Queen’s fair brows.
“Since you have no fear, you may equally have no shame!” she said in icy-cold accents; “Therefore it is easy to understand why you deliberately refuse to see the harm and cruelty done to our son, the Crown Prince, by his marriage with you, if such marriage were in the least admissible, which fortunately for all concerned, it is not. He is destined to occupy the Throne, and he must wed someone who is fit to share it. Kings and princes may love where they choose,—but they can only marry where they must! You are my son’s first love;—the thought and memory of that may perhaps be a consolation to you,—but do not assume that you will be his last!”