"
"Then, it's well I didn't fail him--or my usefulness as the American
Ambassador would be ended."
"Surely, he would not have held that against you?"
Courtney smiled rather grimly. "Presently, my dear Major, you will
know a bit more of Courts and Monarchs."
Then the summons came from the King. Instinctively I held out my hand
to Courtney. He gripped it hard.
"Good-bye, old man, and God bless you," he said.
Then I followed the flunkey.
X
THE COLONEL OF THE RED HUZZARS
When I entered the library, Frederick came forward and kissed me on
both cheeks.
"My dear Armand," he said, "I am pleased beyond expression."
"It's a pity," thought I, "kissing isn't an expression."
"Dehra has told you?" I asked.
He nodded. "But I felt sure of you--so sure, indeed, I have all these
ready for you." He picked up a roll of parchments. "Here is your
Patent as an Archduke of Valeria; here are the title deeds to your
ancestral estates--they have been held as Crown lands since Hugo's
time; here is your commission as Colonel of the Red Huzzars; and here
(and this may please you most) is your commission as Lieutenant-General
in my Army."
I took them mechanically.
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