"May it please you, Sire," I said, "I have the honor to pray the hand
of the Princess Royal in marriage."
The King's smile faded; and his eyes travelled slowly from my head to
my feet and back again to my head, for all the world as though I were
on inspection-parade.
I knew what was in his mind and my courage evaporated instantly. I
began to feel like a soldier caught with uniform awry and equipment
tarnished.
"Do you give me your word, sir, that you are free to marry her?" he
demanded, suddenly.
"On my honor, as an officer and a Dalberg," I answered.
Instantly his manner changed.
"That's quite enough, lad," he said. "If the Princess wants you--and
it would seem she does--I shall not say her nay. Maybe, I am rather
glad to say yes."
I tried to thank him, but he would not let me.
"It's a matter for the two most concerned to arrange," he declared "I
never did fancy these loveless royal marriages. They are very little
better than false ones." Then he laughed. "Tell me about this one of
yours," he said, "the 'true facts' as you called them."
So, I told him, in detail, of the supper in the Garden, the astonishing
accusation of the Spencer woman, and of what I knew concerning her in
America.
Pages:
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196