“With Princess Zoe Theophanis?” asked the listener.
“No, that would be too great a risk. The united claims of the Theophanis descendants would be too strong, if they agreed to act together instead of quarrelling. Another marriage, far more efficacious for the purpose—— But leave that to me.”
“I desire nothing better, madame. But who, then, is your candidate?”
“Need you ask, monsieur?”
“I must have it from your own lips, madame.”
“That is absolutely unnecessary.” The Princess was clearly annoyed, but there was a point beyond which the Greek could not be brow-beaten.
“Unless I know your wishes, I cannot undertake to forward them, madame.”
Defeated by his obstinacy, she spoke hurriedly. “You must represent the importance of haste. Unless Europe intervenes at once, the Balkans will be in a blaze, and the conflagration may spread. The delay for which Scythia and Pannonia hoped, which was to defer the crisis until they were ready to divide Emathia between them, is out of the question. In the circumstances, what better ruler could there be than my son Kazimir,—a persona grata to Scythia, connected with every royal house in Europe, born and brought up in the Balkans, in the one state which has given the Powers no trouble, and unmarried?”
“Undoubtedly, madame, there are few candidates with superior claims—if those of descent are to be ignored.”
“I tell you, the claimants here shall render themselves impossible. My son will need advisers, monsieur,—men acquainted with Emathia——”