“But, Ernestine,” said the Princess, as Cyril bowed, “is poor Lord Caerleon to be left languishing in a dungeon while you instruct Count Mortimer in his duties? Should he not be released?”
“If your Majesty will allow me, I will send for my brother,” said Cyril, and on receiving permission, he left the room.
“Stefanovics,” he said, catching sight of the chamberlain in the hall, and scenting a joke, “send the man who is in my office there to me, will you?”
A smothered exclamation of “Your Majesty!” showed him that the recognition had been complete, and hastily descending the stairs, he found M. Stefanovics on his knees, kissing Caerleon’s hand, much to the embarrassment of its owner.
“Come, this won’t do,” said Cyril. “What about your oath to King Michael, Stefanovics? I’m sure it was a good thing I took all my precautions, if a stalwart supporter of the reigning dynasty like yourself can be carried away so completely. Lord Caerleon is a simple British tourist, do you understand? Come along, Caerleon. By the bye, could you possibly manufacture any engagement that required you to get home at once?”
“There’s no need. The County Council meets in three days, and as chairman——”
“Of course, the very thing—vague and sufficiently high-sounding. Now prepare for a surprise.”
The surprise Cyril intended was the presence of the Princess of Dardania; but Nadia met her husband in the doorway, and at first neither of them found it possible to give a thought to the other occupants of the room. When Nadia was calm again, Cyril led his brother in and presented him to the Queen, excusing his very uncourtierlike appearance by explaining that he had merely come to Tatarjé to fetch his wife and children, and must leave again for England that evening. He further defined the County Council as something between a Provincial Diet and the Imperial Reichstag, for the Queen’s benefit, and succeeded in impressing her with the idea that for Caerleon to be late in arriving at his post would be a crime but little removed from high treason. He had so much to say that it was not until the visitors were taking their leave of the Queen that the Princess of Dardania was able to address herself directly to Caerleon.
“I trust you have not forgotten me, Lord Caerleon?” she said graciously; “or that most interesting fortnight of your visit to Schloss Herzensruh?”
“Madame,” responded Caerleon, with perfect truth, “it would be absolutely impossible for me to forget either the one or the other.”