“I have found my happiness in marrying an English gentleman, and I can wish nothing better for my sister,” said Eirene, with something of reproof in her voice, and Armitage wondered how he had erred. He could not know that the mere suspicion of failure in the great scheme, the hint at a possible future in which Lord Armitage would once more be a bridegroom in no way to be despised by the sister of Maurice Teffany of Stone Acton, had become intolerable to Eirene. Zoe had misjudged her when she told Wylie that Mr Teffany-Wise’s legacy had led her to make a religion of the Theophanis claims. It was the birth of her son, in whose veins ran the blood of both the elder and younger lines of the descendants of John Theophanis, that had roused afresh in Eirene the ambition which had slumbered a little under her husband’s influence during the first years of their marriage. Constantine Theophanis must yet sit on the throne of Czarigrad, and be invested with the imperial diadem in the cathedral of Hagion Pneuma, and to this end his parents must submit, if necessary, to the humiliating task of accepting office as the nominees of the Powers, to masquerading as temporary tenants where they were the rightful inheritors. This Eirene could do without a murmur, but she could not contemplate returning unsuccessful to Stone Acton, to meet the half-veiled contempt of the acquaintances whose friendly advances she had rebuffed, and to hear them ask whether she and Mr Teffany thought of sending their little boy to the Grammar-school in the neighbouring town? “No? and the education is so thoroughly good! A public school? Mr Teffany was at Harrow? Oh, of course, but in these days of reduced rents—— And boys picked up such expensive ideas at public schools.” Eirene drew in her breath sharply, and said, in the tone which Armitage had learnt to interpret as a dismissal, “You may rely on me. If you want my advice at any time I shall be delighted to give it. Do I see Professor Panagiotis coming through the house? Bring him to me at once, please.”
Armitage obeyed, retiring when he had finished his errand. The Professor waited until he was out of sight before he spoke. “You have received further news from Scythia, madame?” he asked then, but rather as though stating a fact than putting a question. Eirene, who had guessed before this that he contrived to make acquaintance with at least the outside of the letters intended for his nominal employers, betrayed no resentment.
“Yes, I have another letter from the Grand-Duchess Sonya,” she said; “and I can hardly doubt that she writes with the knowledge of the Empress. The tone is markedly friendly, and she speaks more than once of the sympathy with which they are watching events here, and their strong hope that the Prince will be able to prove his title.”
The Professor’s face did not show the satisfaction that might have been expected. “It is too good,” he said. “I distrust this excessive amiability.”
“I think they are surprised at our strength,” said Eirene quickly, “and already bidding for our future support.”
“Without an effort to realise the hopes of centuries, which our success would frustrate?” asked the Professor. “No, madame. There is something behind. It is this warm encouragement that perplexes me. Tacit sympathy I should have expected, but coupled with warnings against rashness, and with every other recommendation that might tend to cause delay.”
“But they cannot know how fast we are moving,” she urged eagerly. “You yourself have said that the reasonableness of the delegates astonishes you.”
“True, madame; the impression produced by his Highness is most gratifying, Greek and Slav both believing that they have found their champion in him. The military proposals of Colonel Wylie have also been well received. But as I said just now, it is too good. I should wish to see more opposition. Knives have not been drawn once during the sittings. One delegate’s hand went to his revolver during a discussion which had become a little heated, but the Prince borrowed the weapon at once to look at, and kept it on the table before him the rest of the morning.”
“Ah, you see, they know him already, and they do not care to oppose him. Our task will be shorter than we expected. The delegates will swear allegiance to him, and he will have Christian Emathia at his feet. Then——”
“Then, madame, we shall have to deal with the Powers—a very different matter. The conscience of Europe has to be roused before they can be induced to intervene.”