The Princess Dehra
corridor from the King's, and in
!" she cried,
yet, sweetheart," he said, "
nd regarded him in
ar," she said; "sure
head and we
ecree!" she exclaimed
he said, "the box is empty
did she interrupt-when he mentioned the Duke's unexpected entrance-then she struck her hand sharply on the table at her
nd, she
cil-I can at least assure they won't make Lotzen
m around her wais
ht to mix in this unfortunate
en suddenly she smiled-that sweet, adorable smile she ever had for him. "Be very careful, sir, or
ghtfully, then smiled
claim your Crown; it's yours by right, and
to rebel, dea
he Ministers sprang to their feet and stood waiting, while Ferdinand of Lotzen advanced and bowed low; not offeri
Dehra extended her ha
ld you were still in Lotzenia." The words were so innoc
amusement struggling for control, while Arman
es demanded, and which, with men, a woman must measure with the exactness of fine gold. And with it there was the low, sweet voice, the winning graciousness, and the dazzling smile-now softened just a trifle-that never yet had failed to conq
had to win, save with the Laws. And straightway the last faint scruple perished, and he set his cold heart against her, as well. Henceforth, f
ace, read something of his mind, and with a lift of th
, and I am glad indeed if I can serve you. His Majesty, the night before he d
decree?" Coun
of Laws open before him and a pen in his hand. He was blotting a page as I entered. 'You have made Armand's decree?' I cried, and w
e decree," the Count asked, after a paus
wered her head. "No," she said; "no
ressing silence-
unity to tell me of the decree. I was with him yesterday on
w the Book of Laws?" Epping asked, addressing
ing on the tab
hat His Majesty had been writing in the Book of Laws, you ass
e, to all the family. We had been anticipating the decree, restoring Armand to his rightful place in the Line of Succession as Hugo's heir, and hence it was very natural to assume it was that which His Majesty had written." She paused, and, for an
tisfied," he said-and Du
ister turned
to hear Your Royal
till standing behind his chair, and now he tilted it fo
il that, where kingdoms are concerned, a pretty woman is a dangerous advocate to follow
t mean to question my veracit
er, I assure you-on
at other inferenc
ulders and turned t
s that is before you confirms it. I cannot conceive that the Royal Council of
e Council to annul that decree, but only to assume from Her Royal Highne
uke retorted; "inference against fa
ain that the Book of Laws was lost. He was standing behind the
if the one of us who is to-day made king is liable to be displaced to-morrow by the other. Besides, as I understand Henry the Third's decree, the Council has no jurisdiction except by our agreement. You assert the decree of eligibility was not made by Frederick. If that be true, then, there being 'a vacancy in the royal dignity without such decree being made,' it is for the House of Nobles to enact my eligibility and so give me the
as a complete solution of the vexing problem, and one, moreover, that would relieve them of a most undesirable duty.
calm face and voice softer even than usual, he made his last play, knowing well th
ere be between you as King and you as Consort of the Princess Regent?" Then he faced the Council and flung his last card: "Otherwise, my lords," he said with suave frankness,
Armand's fingers itched to take him by the throat and choke the life out of
usin?" he repeat
k. "My lords," he said, "it seems the Duke
pised Lotzen. With the Princess as Regent, there would be ample means to swing the Nobles to the Archduke, and to prepare the public for his accession. Of course, it would also give Lotzen time to campaign, yet he who fights the government has a roug
objection made to it, yet, my lord," (addressing Lotzen) "you cannot expect the Ar
g's eye she had read an almost imperious order to wait; and having full faith in him, she had obeyed. Now she saw what he
peated, looking at her hard, "to chan
to the situation, and put in a position where I am obliged to speak. Does the R
led in suprem
f one mind that, in this exigency, i
gravely, "I accept, hereby engaging that my wed
and shook her head, and there was naught for him to do but to smile back-and ad
the Duke with a bland smile o
ed, "that we ratify the stipula
e Archduke; but
ing drew
Regent," he cried. It was the ancient
rs across the table, and his voice joined exult
he Princes
inand of Lotzen steppe
ness!" he said, and again
e strength,"
the Count gra
n who broke
he said; "there are pressing personal affairs wh
hen to the Prime Minister: "Will
and yet, in those few words, she warned them all that the
amation for your signature," said the Count
om, his surprise still stronger than his anger; though, in the end, it
lorious memory-yet, was it wise-was it in fact her duty-her duty to her House; to her beloved? Surely it was not to her pleasure-she who had been happy in her nearing wedding day-her lover placed next the Throne-his bright future and her joy for it. And now-the wait-the struggle-the obligation of right, of
riting and, laying asi
liking at any time for a woman's reverie, and none at all when it wa
nd she let him know she understood him, by a smile and a shake of her handsome head. It
ead it,"
aws, the stipulation of the Archduke and the Duke relative to the Succession remaining in abeyan
g offered, she signed it and returned it to the Count. Immediately the C
h the library, Dehra
re was the box. I can't imagine what he did with the Book-nor why he removed it from the box-a
and Adolph, the vale
Archduke, seeing
d; "you left it in the council
e vault and opened it.... "Put it on the shelf in the rear," sh
eed to lock it,
iselle," said the man. "It sn
t has.... Shut the vault door." T
Armand, as she gave the combination a twirl
all-and of a sudden the reaction came, and the tears started, and her lips twitched. She reached out h