“Tell it for me, St. Arnaud, for I cannot,” and walked away to a window to hide his agitation.
St. Arnaud was somewhat disconcerted at Gavin’s outbreak, but in response to a word of inquiry from the Empress Queen replied:
“What he says is true. He is the son of Sir Gavin Hamilton, who has ill-used him and his mother, and this young man was forced to take service in the ranks. But he is well educated, as your Majesty perceives by his language, and that he has the character and feelings of a gentleman is proved by his treatment of his father. For when Sir Gavin Hamilton offered him everything, provided he would abandon his mother, this youth refused, and chose rather poverty and obscurity than to cast dishonour upon his mother, who is Sir Gavin’s true and lawful wife.”
The Emperor, at this, said calmly:
“I heard only a few moments before you entered this room that the young man was Sir Gavin’s son. Sir Gavin is at present in Vienna. Although England has left the ranks of our allies to join our enemies, yet, by mutual arrangement, citizens of one country are not obliged to leave the other until a fixed period. Sir Gavin has availed himself of this provision, and even appears at court as usual. I was told by Captain von Rosen that when you appeared riding in the cart at the end of the parade, Sir Gavin said to him: ‘The younger man is my son, but not my heir.’ I determined to inquire into the matter.”
Gavin, at this, came from his retreat in the window, and cried:
“Sir Gavin might have said that to Baron von Rosen, but if he ever said so much to me, I would use my two fists on him as I did once before. For, your Majesty, such words are a reflection on my mother; and no man that lives, be he my father ten thousand times over, shall say one word against my mother without my doing him the worst injury I can in return for it. My mother is Lady Hamilton, and Sir Gavin admitted it when he threatened me with divorcing my mother, after having abandoned her many years ago. But I defied him to do it, and he dares not attempt it. Nor will my mother be driven or frightened into a divorce; for she is a brave lady, and will not do anything that may one day impair my rights or my standing.”
The Empress Queen listened with shining eyes. To no one could an appeal to the feelings be made more safely than to Maria Theresa.
“How does life repeat itself!” she said. “Here is this mother, who holds tenaciously to her rights for her child’s sake—for I believe every word you have told me. So do I hold on to all my rights, when the King of Prussia would ravage them from me, determined to transmit to my son his heritage unimpaired. Nor is it lost on me,” she said, turning to Gavin, with the sweetest smile—“the son who is faithful to his mother in poverty and obscurity, rather than to the father in power and splendour. Therefore, you may look to me as a friend. You say you are a private soldier. Captain St. Arnaud says you are anxious to be an officer. Before this day is over you shall have a sublieutenant’s commission in my army.”
Gavin stood silent, stunned by his good fortune.