Count Piper felt bound to defend himself.
“Madame, you have not seemed displeased at the King’s notice.”
“No,” flashed Viktoria, “and the Duchess has told you that she does not like me and that I am a light creature, and so you think you can affront me with impunity.”
“Madame, it can be no affront to suggest that you might be the King’s friend and influence him for good.”
She sighed a little at these conventional words and put her thin hands, with a gesture of weariness, to her fair brow.
“Will you let me see the King, alone?” she asked quietly. “Perhaps I might be able to turn him to what is the wish of all of us.”
The Count did not affect to understand this change of front, but he was eager to grasp at her suggestion.
“His Majesty is now in my cabinet,” he replied.
“I wish to see him when he is sober.”
“When he wakes he will be sober.”