Part 36 (1/2)
”I know you have,” said I ”Half our ae Featherly told me so But why should you have been anxious? I can take care of myself”
”Oh, it wasn't that,” she cried scornfully, ”but I wanted to tell you about Sir Jacob Borrodaile You know, he's got an Embassy--at least, he will have in a o with hi to succeed Lord Topham at Strelsau,” said she ”You couldn't have a nicer place, short of Paris”
”Strelsau! H' at my brother
”Oh, _that_ doesn't o, won't you?”
”I don't know that I care about it!”
”Oh, you're too exasperating!”
”And I don't think I can go to Strelsau My dear Rose, would it be--suitable?”
”Oh, nobody remembers that horrid old story now”
Upon this, I took out ofof Ruritania
It had been taken a month or two before he ascended the throne She could notit into her hands:
”In case you've not seen, or not noticed, a picture of Rudolf V, there he is Don't you think they ht recall the story, if I appeared at the Court of Ruritania?”
My sister-in-law looked at the portrait, and then at raph down on the table
”What do you say, Bob?” I asked
Burlesdon got up, went to a corner of the room, and searched in a heap of newspapers Presently he ca the paper, he displayed a double-page engraving of the Coronation of Rudolf V at Strelsau The photograph and the picture he laid side by side I sat at the table fronting therew absorbed My eye travelled from my own portrait to Sapt, to Strakencz, to the rich robes of the Cardinal, to Black Michael's face, to the stately figure of the princess by his side Long I looked and eagerly I was roused bydown at me with a puzzled expression
”It's a remarkable likeness, you see,” said I ”I really think I had better not go to Ruritania”
Rose, though half convinced, would not abandon her position
”It's just an excuse,” she said pettishly ”You don't want to do anything Why, you ht become an ambassador!”
”I don't think I want to be an ambassador,” said I
”It's more than you ever will be,” she retorted