“Very much so. This is a most embarrassing state of affairs for me.”
“Surely not, madame. If your Majesty would intrust any name to me, in strict confidence, the affair shall be conducted with the greatest delicacy.”
“You will not understand me, monsieur.” Anger and confusion were contending in her voice. “I have no name to intrust to you.”
“Among all the princes of Europe, madame——”
“I am not searching Europe for a second husband, monsieur. You must understand once for all that I cannot fall in with your schemes on this subject.”
“It is possible that a search is unnecessary, madame. The Scythian Government has been good enough to make a suggestion.”
“I am extremely grateful. Who is the person suggested.”
“His Highness Prince Nikifor of Klausenmark.” The Klausenmark family formed a kind of link between the imperial house of Scythia and ordinary mortals, since it traced its descent from a Scythian Grand-Duchess who had married a member of the German nobility early in the present century.
“But he is little better than a simpleton!”
“True, madame, so they say. Your Majesty must surely be able to suggest a more acceptable suitor?”