"The King's!" replied Adolphus, retiring sorrowfully.
Christina sank on a seat, and covered her face with her hands.
"Stay," cried Charles the Twelfth in a voice of thunder; "stay, I command you."
The young man obeyed; biting his lip to conceal his emotion, till the blood came.
"I have seen you," said the King, "but not in this house."
"It was shut against me by my uncle when you were expected," said Adolphus.
"And yet I have seen you somewhere. What is your name?"
"Adolphus Hesse; the son of a brave officer who died fighting for you, and leaving me his misfortunes and the tears of his widow."
"Who told you I was not Count Ericson?"
"My eyes. I know you well."