Part 47 (1/2)
”Perhaps, Your Majesty,” said I, ”it is possible that Her Highness . . . the likeness between her and her sister . . . perhaps, knowing that I have known Her Highness Phyllis . . . that is, the Princess Elizabeth . . . she may believe that I . . .” It was very embarra.s.sing.
”Continue,” said the King. ”And please make your sentences intelligible.”
”What I meant to say was that Her Highness the Princess Hildegarde, believes that I love her sister instead of herself . . . I thought . . . she has written otherwise . . .” And then I foundered again.
”Prince,” said the King, laughing in spite of his efforts to appear angry, ”for pity's sake, tell me what this man is talking about!”
”A woman,” said the Chancellor. ”Perhaps Her Highness the Princess Hildegarde. . . . That is, I believe. . . . She may love this man . . . perhaps thinking he loves the other. . .” He was mocking me, and my face burned.
”Prince, do not confuse the man; he is bad enough as it is.” The King smoothed away the remnant of the smile.
”Your Majesty is right,” said I, desperately. ”I am confused. I know not what to say.”
”What would you do in my place?” asked the King of the Chancellor.
”I should say in an ominous voice, 'Young man, you may go; but if you ever enter our presence again without either one or the other of the Hohenphalian Princesses as your wife, we shall confiscate your property and put you in a dungeon for the remainder of your natural days.' I put in the confiscation clause as a matter of form. Have you any property?”
”What I have,” I answered, my confidence returning, ”I can put in my pockets.”
”Good,” said the King. ”What the Chancellor says is but just. See to it that his directions are followed.”
”Now, my King,” concluded the Chancellor, ”put a medal on him and let him go.”
”In time,” replied the King. ”You may go, Herr Winthrop.”
”Go and scribble no more,” added the Chancellor.
I could hear them laughing as I made my escape from the room. It could not be expected of me to join them. And Gretchen was as far away as ever. Phyllis love me? It was absurd. Gretchen had played me the fool. She had been laughing at me all the time. Yet, she had begged my life of the Prince, and on her knees. Or, was it a lie of his? Oh, it seemed to me that my brain would never become clear again.
In the afternoon at four I was ushered into the boudoir of Her Highness the Princess Elizabeth. It was Phyllis no longer; Phyllis had pa.s.sed; and I became conscious of a vague regret.
”I am glad,” she said, ”that you were able to come. I wanted to speak to you about--about my sister.”
”Your Highness--”
She laughed. ”Our interview shall end at once if you call me by that t.i.tle. Sir,” with a gaiety which struck me as unnatural, ”you are witnessing the pa.s.sing of Phyllis. It will not be long before she shall pa.s.s away and never more return, and the name shall fade till it becomes naught but a dear memory. Phyllis has left the green pastures for the city, and Corydon followeth not.”
”Phyllis,” said I, ”you are cutting me to the heart.”
”But to the matter at hand,” she said quickly. ”There is a misunderstanding between you and my sister Hildegarde. She sent me this letter. Read it.”
It differed but little from the one I had read in the King's chamber that morning. I gave it back to her.
”Do you understand?”
”I confess that I do not. It seems that I am never going to understand anything again.”
Phyllis balanced the letter on the palm of her hand. ”You are so very blind, my dear friend. Did you not tell her that there had been another affair? Do you not believe she thinks your regard for her merely a matter of pique, of consolation? It was very kind of her to sacrifice herself for me. Some women are willing to give up all to see the man they love made happy. My sister is one of those. But I shall refuse the gift. Jack, can you not see that the poor woman thinks that you love me?” Phyllis was looking at me with the greatest possible kindness.
”I know not what she thinks. I only know that she has written me that she is sorry for having played with my affections. Phyllis, if she loved me she would not leave me as she has done.”