“It is not very modern, I think. Oh, I remember—
“‘I hold him great who for love’s sake
Can give, with earnest, generous will;
But him who takes for love’s sweet sake
I think I hold more generous still.’
The Queen would give up everything for you, but you will not take it.”
“You are right, Princess. I will not take what she has no business to give. Excuse my saying it, but you appear to forget that she and I are not private individuals, and that all we do must be considered with an eye to its effect on the political situation.”
“You think that I forget that? My dear Lord Cyril, it is the amount of right on your side in this affair which is the perplexing element in the case. If I had not felt that perhaps, after all, your view was the more just, I should have pleaded with you for the poor Queen with all my heart—I should have advised her to plead for herself until you could withstand her no longer.”
“You have passed a good many remarks on me to-day, Princess. Allow me in return to say that you are the strangest combination of fanatic and sentimentalist that I ever met. Why are you so anxious to see us married?”
“For her happiness and your good. But now explain to me this political situation. Why should not the help of M. Drakovics be invoked to bring about such a change in the Constitution as would permit of your marriage?”