“Ah! You forget, no doubt,” said Von Glauben, “that the King—any King—is usually a Dummy in the hands of Government, unless, as in the present instance, he chooses to become a living Personality for himself!”
“The King has created an autocracy!” said Louis Valdor; “and it will last for his lifetime. But after——!”
“After him,—if his eldest son, Prince Humphry, comes to the Throne,—the autocracy will be continued;” said Von Glauben decisively; “For he is a young man who is singularly fond of having his own way!”
The conversation now became general; and the big, bare, common room assumed in a few minutes almost the aspect of a Royal levée. This was curious enough,—and furnished food for meditation to Professor von Glauben, who was considerably excited by the dramatic dénouement of the Day of Fate,—a climax for which neither he nor Sir Roger had been in the least prepared. He said something of it to Sir Roger who was watching Lotys.
“You look at the woman,” he said; “I look at the man! Do you think this drama is finished?”
“Not yet!” answered De Launay curtly; “Nor is the danger over!”
The hum of talk continued; and the good feeling of friendship and unity of the assemblage was intensified with every cordial handshake. When the time came to break up, someone suggested that a carriage should be sent for to convey the King and his two companions to the Palace. Whereat the monarch laughed aloud and right joyously.
“By my faith!” he exclaimed; “You, my friends, would actually pamper me already, by offering me a luxury which you yourselves do not propose to enjoy! Ah, my friends, here comes in the mischief of the monarchical system! What of your ‘Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity’? Do I ask to have anything different to yourselves? Can I not walk, even as you do? Have I not walked to, and from these meetings often? And even so, I purpose to walk now! If you are true Revolutionists—as I am—do not reverse your own theories! You complain,—and justly,—that a king is over-flattered; do not then flatter him yourselves by insisting on such convenience for him as he does not even demand at your hands!”
“You take us too literally, Sir,” said Louis Valdor; “Even Revolutionists owe respect to their chief!”
“Sergius Thord is your Chief, my friend!” replied the monarch; “And, from a Revolutionary point of view, mine! But you have never thought of sending him anywhere in a carriage! Ah!—what children we are! What slaves of convention! ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ have been the ideals of ages;—yet despite them, we are always ready to follow a Leader,—and form ourselves into one body under a Head!”