The paper added, the King had
taken the chief part in the rejoicings over the heir, so there was nothing
to be said. There were hints also of his mad fits of debauchery and
drunkenness, and a suppressed tale of how in one of them he had strangled a
keeper, and had often threatened the Queen's life. Her brother, however,
was with her now, and would see Russian supremacy was not upset.
"Husband seems a likely character to hobnob with, don't he, Charles? No
wonder she turned her eye on Paul, eh?" Mark Grigsby ended with.
But Sir Charles answered not, his thoughts were full of his son.
All the forces of nature and emotion seemed to be drawing him away from
peaceful England towards a hornets' nest, and he--his father--would be
powerless to prevent it.
CHAPTER XXVII
April's days were lengthening out in showers and sunshine and cold east
wind. Easter and a huge party had come and gone at Verdayne Place, and the
Lady Henrietta had had her hopes once more blighted by noticing Paul's
indomitable indifference to all the pretty girls.
He was going to stand for Parliament in the autumn, when their very old
member should retire, and he made that an excuse for his isolation; he was
working too hard for social functions, he said. But in reality life was
growing more than he could bear.
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