‘I was about to propose it,’ she replied, ‘or rather to pursue the politics. Do you know? this war is popular—popular to the length of cheering Princess Seraphina.’
‘All things, madam, are possible,’ said the Prince; and this among others, that we may be going into war, but I give you my word of honour I do not know with whom.’
‘And you put up with it?’ she cried. ‘I have no pretensions to morality; and I confess I have always abominated the lamb, and nourished a romantic feeling for the wolf. O, be done with lambiness! Let us see there is a prince, for I am weary of the distaff.’
‘Madam,’ said Otto, ‘I thought you were of that faction.’
‘I should be of yours, mon Prince, if you had one,’ she retorted. ‘Is it true that you have no ambition? There was a man once in England whom they call the kingmaker. Do you know,’ she added, ‘I fancy I could make a prince?’
‘Some day, madam,’ said Otto, ‘I may ask you to help make a farmer.’
‘Is that a riddle?’ asked the Countess.
‘It is,’ replied the Prince, ‘and a very good one too.’
‘Tit for tat. I will ask you another,’ she returned. ‘Where is Gondremark?’
‘The Prime Minister? In the prime-ministry, no doubt,’ said Otto.