And,
straightway, the skies brightened. Plainly, if her father were not
offended, I might yet make my peace with her.
Then I, too, began to smile. Doubtless there was a funny side to it;
though it seemed to be more evident to the spectators than to me. At
any rate, the King still laughed, and so did Courtney; though quietly
and discreetly. His, I admit, I did not relish; so I spoke.
"I am very sorry, Your Majesty; I meant no offence----" I began.
"Nonsense, Major," the King interrupted. "You gave none."
"Indeed!" I said, and rubbed my mouth.
"Oh, don't hold that against the Princess," he chuckled.
"She didn't hit half hard enough." I said. "She should have knocked me
down."
He shook his head. "She misunderstood the whole matter. I forgot she,
doubtless, knows nothing of the American branch of the House; so, my
calling you cousin conveyed no meaning, if indeed she even heard it.
She simply thought you a presumptuous stranger."
"And so I am."
He waved the idea aside. "You are her nearest male relative after
myself."
"That may mitigate my presumption--but, none the less, I'm a stranger."
"No Dalberg is stranger to a Dalberg, and least of all in the presence
of the Dalberg King," he said.
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