And it was well he did; for I was not used to fancy uniforms, with
their peculiar fastenings and adornments, and I might have spent the
entire evening in solving them. But Adolph attired me with astonishing
celerity, and then, swinging a cheval glass before me, he inquired:
"Are you satisfied, sir?"
"You are a wonderful valet, Adolph," I said, ignoring the mirror.
I did not need it to know that I was clad in scarlet and gold, with a
black, fur-bound dohlman over one shoulder and a tall black busby on my
head. I hung the Eagle of the Cincinnati about my neck and went back
to the King.
He looked me over critically and nodded. "You'll do, my boy," he said.
Then he raised the Eagle and examined it. "It is a great Order," he
said; "one of the greatest in the world, but a Prince of Valeria must
wear his country's also," and he pinned the Star of the Lion on my
tunic. "And now, come, I want to show you to your cousin."
At the door of the Princess's apartments he waved aside the footman
and, himself, announced:
"His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Armand!"
It was so unexpected and sounded so queer, withal, that, for a moment,
I hesitated; then I took a fresh grip on my busby and followed the
King.
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