"Get up, count," he said, with a little shaky laugh. "I appreciate the honour, but your fancy is playing you a trick. I tell you I never set foot in Mauravania before, my friend."
"I know, I know. How should you, Majesty, when it was as a child at Queen Karma's breast Mauravania last saw—— Don't leave like this! Majesty! Majesty! 'God guard the right'—the pearl and the kingdom are here."
"Wrong, my good friend. The kingdom is there, where you found me in England; and so, too, is the pearl. For there is no kingdom like the kingdom of love, count, and no pearl like a good woman."
"But, Majesty——"
"Good-night, count, and many thanks for your hospitality. You are a little upset to-night, but no doubt you
will be all right again in the morning. I will walk to the station and alone, if it is all the same to you."
"Majesty!"
"Dreams, count, dreams. The riddle is solved, my friend. Good luck to your country and good-bye!"
And, setting his back to the palace and the lights and the fluttering flag, and his face to the land that held her, turned and went his way—to the West—to England—to those things which are higher than crowns and better than sceptres and more precious than thrones and ermine.