“Simply because Drakovics is not acting on the square. When King Otto Georg died, the old man relied upon the Queen’s dislike of me to place him in possession of absolute power; but finding that I was left in a position practically as important as his own, in so far as the right to advise the Queen and watch over the little King went, and also that I could manage Ernestine better than he could, he has changed his attitude towards me. He could tolerate me as a subordinate, but not as an equal, and by no means as his political heir. That post is intended for his nephew Vassili; and both uncle and nephew have improved the shining hour by consolidating their position while I was away all winter with the Court at the other end of the kingdom. Now you see Drakovics’s little game. He suspects that Ernestine is in love with me, but he can’t find out whether I return the sentiment. If he could get her to assent to the alteration of the Constitution, he need only inform the Powers of what was up, certain that I should have to quit Thracia in no time. That would get rid of me, and leave Ernestine perfectly helpless in his hands, while if she came after me and we were married, he would get rid of us both. It is to his interest to do that—in fact, to get us married—and so have the little King left in his hands, to be converted or anything else, just as he liked.”
“But would it not be possible—I do not wish to suggest anything presumptuous—to arrange a kind of treaty with M. Drakovics, by which, even if it was necessary for the Queen to resign the regency, she and you might remain in the country and watch over the little King? It would of course be provided that his faith was not to be tampered with.”
“No doubt it would be possible, were it not for the fact that the first hint of such a treaty would give Drakovics just the information he wants.”
“But he has no proof against you. You could not be removed merely on suspicion, for you must have friends both in the country and in Europe generally.”
“Few enough, I fear. I have been a little too successful for friendship to flourish in my neighbourhood, you see.”
“But still, there must be some who would take your part. M. Drakovics must know that. Surely he would prefer to gain his end without trouble or scandal if possible? And then there would not be the difficulty of leaving King Michael in his hands. The Queen would not consent to that, and I could never advise her to do it; but if you and she remained in the country as private individuals, taking no part in politics, you would be able to superintend the child’s education, and see that the treaty was not broken.”
“Taking no part in politics!” repeated Cyril, shrugging his shoulders. “You evidently fail to perceive, Princess, that life without politics—and political power—would be death to me.”
“Lord Cyril,” said the Princess earnestly, laying her hand on his arm, “I want to entreat you to enter upon some settlement of this nature if it is possible. It is very strongly impressed upon me that at this moment you are standing at the parting of the ways. The two roads which lie before you are those of love and ambition; but in this instance love includes the whole higher side of life. You have sacrificed much for ambition already, and I long to see you break the spell, for greater sacrifices will be demanded of you if you make this one. Bear with me; I am speaking as I would to your brother. It is not for Queen Ernestine’s sake that I ask you to pause here; it is for your own. This trial is bitter enough for her at the moment, but I think she will develop into a nobler woman under it. But your character must deteriorate under the influence of ambition—nay, it has deteriorated already. You would once—even when I first met you, I think—have shrunk from building your career on the foundation of twelve years of splendid misery for the woman who loved you. You may yet find yourself bartering for the chance of power your love for her itself.”
“Your anticipations are not flattering, Princess.”
“I fear that they are none the less true for that. But there is another danger, if you refuse to take this opportunity of casting away your ambition. What will happen if the trial you are inflicting on Ernestine strengthens her character in proportion as yours deteriorates? You will be developing in different directions, and your punishment at last may come through the very sufferings you inflicted on her, in order to gratify your desire for power.”