“Madame, if your Majesty considers that I have no excuse, I would not be so wanting in respect as to offer any.”
“Oh, Cyril,” cried Nadia, “won’t you explain? I know there must be some good reason for all that has happened, but you are torturing me.”
“At least pity your sister,” said the Queen, more gently; “and offer any explanation that may seem to you to be adequate.”
“No explanation that I can offer is likely to be satisfactory to your Majesty,” said Cyril. “You were good enough to observe, madame, that it was at the late King’s wish that I was intrusted with my present office. The duties of that office I must continue to strive to fulfil as long as I hold it. My popularity in the country signifies to me as little as the favour of your Majesty, which I cannot flatter myself I have ever had the honour of possessing. It was not in defence of my own popularity that I had my brother arrested to-day, but in that of the kingdom of my master, your son.”
“Are you trying to excuse yourself by casting suspicion upon your brother?” cried the Princess; but Cyril did not flinch.
“Madame,” he went on, still addressing himself to the Queen, “but for the steps I have found it necessary to take to-day, the King and yourself would now be prisoners, and my brother proclaimed King of Thracia once more. Unknown to him, a conspiracy had been formed with that object in view, and this conspiracy I have foiled by the means which have had the misfortune to displease you.”
“Oh, Cyril, I can never thank you enough!” cried Nadia. “You have saved us from utter misery. Carlino will express our gratitude to you himself, for the idea of reigning here again would horrify him.”
“You have reason to believe in the existence of this conspiracy, then, madame?” asked the Queen sharply, turning to her.
“Madame, it explains many things that have terrified and perplexed me since I have been at Tatarjé, and my brother has relieved me from a horrible anxiety.”
“It is evident that we have misjudged you, Count,” said the Queen, “although I cannot but say that your methods of working are open to grave misconstruction. Pray remember that in future I wish to be kept informed if you find it needful to take any action of the kind.”