“Is anything the matter? How is the Queen?” he asked, jumping up.
“Her Majesty is much refreshed by her night’s rest,” returned Fräulein von Staubach primly, but with some signs of confusion. “I merely wished to warn you, Count, that she was troubled by a peculiar dream last night, which had to do with yourself. She thought that you came into the room and held her hand in yours, and addressed her by name. Of course you see at once that it is only in the Queen’s weak state that she could imagine such an idea was anything but a dream.”
“Of course,” returned Cyril. “Dreams are strange things, Fräulein.”
CHAPTER XV.
“WE TWO STOOD THERE WITH NEVER A THIRD.”
“You make me absolutely miserable, madame,” Fräulein von Staubach was protesting vigorously. “Count, I am sure you will agree with me that her Majesty ought not to leave her bed. Pray exercise your influence——”
“What has Count Mortimer to do with it?” asked the Queen, as she hobbled into the outer room on her bandaged feet. “He is not my private physician. Your influence is never exerted on the side of laziness, is it, Count?”
She spoke quickly, and with a little hardness in her voice, doing her best not to look at Cyril. He knew that she was trying to assure herself of the purely imaginary character of the events of her dream, and that she found it difficult to do so; but, thanks to Fräulein von Staubach’s warning, he was able to meet her without betraying any self-consciousness. The situation had even a touch of piquancy for him, as he arranged a comfortable seat for her near the fire, and brought out the remains of the last night’s loaf, which formed the only breakfast available; but when he found her eyes fixed on him in mingled confusion and anxiety, he did his best to set her at her ease by diverting her mind to other topics.
“Indeed, Fräulein,” he replied, “I cannot say that I am sorry her Majesty is well enough to rise. You must remember that we are not out of danger yet, and for all we know there may be another day’s tramping before us.”
“More walking, Count?” asked the Queen in dismay.
“It will be all downhill to-day, madame, at any rate.”