“No; but when you do they are so very hard to grant. Still, I will moot the matter to Michael, as you wish it so much, Cyril. It cannot well do any harm. But I must wait until he returns from Praka.”
“You don’t mean to say that he is at Praka now? I thought he came home with you, and was in the Palace.”
“No; we separated at Witska, and I came on without him. He wanted to see his cousins again, and besides, he heard that Ottilie had been slighted in some way with regard to the invitation to Molzau, and nothing would satisfy him but going to sympathise with her.”
“This is very bad, Ernestine.” Cyril was seriously disturbed. “If your cousin’s suspicions are aroused as to anything that passed at Molzau, she is quite capable of ruining our plans. You must telegraph to Michael immediately, and desire him to return without delay. I would advise you to send Pavlovics and some of his suite to fetch him—for he is getting too old to be running about the country with only a servant or two—but the Princess might get wind of our intentions and forestall us.”
“But even if Michael is heart-whole, Cyril, and does not object to the idea of marrying Frederike in the course of time, what about Ottilie? How can I ever explain the change to her? And there is no explanation. I am simply breaking my solemn promise.”
“Refer her Royal Highness to me, if you like. We are old acquaintances, and I may be able to remind her of a promise or two that she has herself broken. Lay the blame on Europe, tell her that you object to the honour of being one of the causes of the Great War—but send for your son at once.”
“I will. The telegram shall go immediately.”
The Queen kept her word, without taking any one into her counsels; yet only an hour or so later a second telegram left Bellaviste, also for Praka, but addressed to the Princess of Dardania. The contents were in cipher, and translated, read thus:—
“Mortimer had long private interview this morning with Queen, who was afterwards observed to have been weeping. A message of recall was despatched to King instantly on M.’s departure. Be on your guard.
D.”