“Your Excellency, the door is unguarded, and there are none of them in the hall. I can disguise you in a moment, and you will be able to escape.”
“No, thank you, Paschics. Don’t you see their little dodge? They would like it better than anything else if I went slinking away in disguise, but I don’t mean to gratify them. We will stay here.”
After all, the imprisonment lasted only two days. At the end of that time the papers were returned and the police guard removed from the house, and Cyril was informed that he might go whither he would. Of this permission, however, he refused to avail himself, declining to skulk out of the country like a man desiring to escape notice. In consequence of his maintenance of this unbending attitude, one of the Court carriages was sent on the following day to convey him to the Palace, with the message that the King wished to see him. With the young monarch he found the Prince of Dardania, who took the leading part in the conversation which followed. A little to one side sat the Princess, with a piece of embroidery in her hand.
“Her Royal Highness is present, Count,” said King Michael sharply, when Cyril had saluted him and the Prince.
“I crave her Royal Highness’s pardon, sir. I had imagined that this was a business interview, and that the Princess’s presence would be more properly ignored, but since your Majesty informs me that it is a social occasion, I can only express my gratification at being admitted to such a pleasant family gathering.”
“Count,” said the Prince of Dardania hastily, “his Majesty has asked me to express his regret at the treatment you have received. In consequence of the receipt of mistaken information, you were placed under arrest, and your papers seized. I need scarcely say that nothing to justify the seizure was discovered, and strong representations as to the harshness of the course pursued have been made by several personages whose advice the King is bound to respect. Under these circumstances, his Majesty’s only desire is to make you a suitable recompense for the inconvenience to which you have been put. There are personal and family reasons, which it is unnecessary to particularise, which would render it undesirable for you to continue to hold the office of Premier, but you are of course entitled to the usual pension, and if with this you care to accept the position of Thracian Minister to the Pannonian Court, I think you would find it a post well suited to your tastes and abilities.”
“I am deeply indebted to your Highness for the handsome things you have said. With respect to the offers you have been instructed to make to me in the name of his Majesty, perhaps you will convey to him the pleasing intelligence that I decline them utterly, for personal reasons, which it is unnecessary to particularise. I will not accept a pension, nor will I take the post of Minister to Pannonia, and there is certainly one person in this room who has reason to be grateful that I will not. But I demand an authorised statement in the ‘Gazette’ that I resigned office on account of failing health, induced by long and unremitting devotion to the duties of my position, and also a full apology for the inexcusable blunder committed by the police. I shall expect also to receive the marks of distinction usual on quitting an office such as I have held, and to be treated with due honour on quitting Thracia. Otherwise I stay.”
“I know why you refuse his Majesty’s offers,” said the Princess, leaning forward confidentially, while her husband and the King discussed Cyril’s demands in an undertone. “You wish to injure Thracia, and therefore do not like to take her money. I did not know you were so scrupulous.”
“It is quite unnecessary for me to injure Thracia. I leave that to your Royal Highness, in the full conviction that the task will be efficiently performed.”
“Are you trying to cast a doubt upon my motives, Count?”