Part 19 (1/2)
”None that call for particular attention, Sir Roger,” replied the individual addressed; ”But I have been sent for by the King, and am here awaiting his pleasure.”
Sir Roger showed no sign of surprise, and with a friendly nod pa.s.sed on.
He began to find the situation rather interesting.
”After all,” he argued inwardly, ”there is nothing to hinder the King from being a social autocrat, even if he cannot by the rules of the Const.i.tution be a political one. And we should do well to remember that politics are governed entirely by social influence. It is the same thing all over the world--a deluded populace--a social movement which elects a parliament and ministry--and then the result,--which is, that this or that party hold the reins of government, on whichever side happens to be most advantageous to the immediate social and financial whim. The people are the grapes crushed into wine for their rulers' drinking; and the King is merely the wine-cup on the festal board. If he once begins to be something more than that cup, there will be an end of revelry!”
His ideas were not without good foundation in fact. Throughout all history, where a strong man has ruled a nation, whether for good or ill, he has left his mark; and where there has been no strong man, the annals of the time are vapid and uninteresting. Governments emanate from social influences. The social rule of the Roman Emperors bred athletes, heroes, and poets, merely because physical strength and courage, combined with heroism and poetic perception were encouraged by Roman society. The social rule of England's Elizabeth had its result in the brilliant attainments of the many great men who crowded her Court--the social rule of Victoria, until the death of the Prince Consort, bred gentle women and chivalrous men. In all these cases, the reigning monarchs governed society, and society governed politics. Politics, indeed, can scarcely be considered apart from society, because on the nature and character of society depend the nature and character of politics. If society is made up of corrupt women and unprincipled men, the spirit of political government will be as corrupt and unprincipled as they. If any King, beholding such a state of things, were to suddenly cut himself clear of the corruption, and to make a straight road for his own progress--clean and open--and elect to walk in it, society would follow his lead, and as a logical consequence politics would become honourable. But no monarchs have the courage of their opinions nowadays,--if only one sovereign of them all possessed such courage, he could move the world!
The long bright day unwound its sunny hours, crowned with blue skies and fragrant winds, and the life and movement of the fair city by the sea was gay, incessant and ever-changing. There was some popular interest and excitement going on down at the quay, for the usual idle crowd had collected to see the Royal yacht being prepared for her afternoon's cruise. Though she was always kept ready for sailing, the King's orders this time had been sudden and peremptory, and, consequently, all the men on board were exceptionally hard at work getting things in immediate readiness. The fact that the Queen was to accompany the King in the afternoon's trip to The Islands, where up to the present she had never been, was a matter of lively comment,--her extraordinary beauty never failing to attract a large number of sight-seers.
In the general excitement, no one saw Professor von Glauben quietly enter a small and common sailing skiff, manned by two ordinary fishermen of the sh.o.r.e, and scud away with the wind over the sea towards the west, where, in the distance on this clear day, a gleaming line of light showed where The Islands lay, glistening like emerald and pearl in the midst of the dark blue waste of water. His departure was unnoticed, though as a rule the King's private physician commanded some attention, not only by reason of his confidential post in the Royal household, but also on account of certain rumours which were circulated through the country concerning his wonderful skill in effecting complete cures where all hope of recovery had been abandoned. It was whispered, indeed, that he had discovered the 'Elixir of Life,' but that he would not allow its properties to be made known, lest as the Scripture saith, man should 'take and eat and live for ever.' It was not advisable--so the Professor was reported to have said--that all men should live for ever,--but only a chosen few; and he, at present, was apparently the privileged person who alone was fitted to make the selection of those few. For this and various other reasons, he was generally looked at with considerable interest, but this morning, owing to the hurried preparations for the embarking of their Majesties on board the Royal yacht, he managed to escape from even chance recognition,--and he was well over the sea, and more than half-way to his destination before the bells of the city struck noon.
Punctual to that hour, a close carriage drove up to the palace. It contained no less a personage than the Prime Minister, the Marquis de Lutera,--a dark, heavy man, with small furtive eyes, a ponderous jaw, and a curious air of seeming for ever on an irritable watch for offences. His aspect was intellectual, yet always threatening; and his frigid manner was profoundly discouraging to all who sought to win his attention or sympathy. He entered the palace now with an easy, not to say a.s.sertive deportment, and as he ascended the broad staircase which led to the King's private apartments, he met the Chief of the Police coming down. This latter saluted him, but he barely acknowledged the courtesy, so taken by surprise was he at the sight of this administrative functionary in the palace at so early an hour. However, it was impossible to ask any questions of him on the grand staircase, within hearing of the Royal lackeys; so he continued on his way upstairs, with as much dignity as his heavily-moulded figure would permit him to display, till he reached the upper landing known as the 'King's Corridor,' where Sir Roger de Launay was in waiting to conduct him to his sovereign's presence. To him the Marquis addressed the question:
”Bernhoff has been with the King?”
”Yes. For more than an hour.”
”Any robbery in the palace?”
De Launay smiled.
”I think not! So far as I am permitted to be cognisant of events, there is nothing wrong!”
The Marquis looked slightly perplexed.
”The King is well?”
”Remarkably well--and in excellent humour! He is awaiting you, Marquis,--permit me to escort you to him!”
The carved and gilded doors of the Royal audience-chamber were thereupon flung back, and the Marquis entered, ushered in by De Launay. The doors closed again upon them both; and for some time there was profound silence in the King's corridor, no intruder venturing to approach save two gentlemen-at-arms, who paced slowly up and down at either end on guard. At the expiration of about an hour, Sir Roger came out alone, and, glancing carelessly around him, strolled to the head of the grand staircase, and waited patiently there for quite another thirty minutes.
At last the doors were flung open widely again, and the King himself appeared, clad in easy yachting attire, and walking with one hand resting on the arm of the Marquis de Lutera, who, from his expression, seemed curiously perturbed.
”Then you will not come with us, Marquis?” said the King, with an air of gaiety; ”You are too much engrossed in the affairs of Government to break loose for an afternoon from politics for the sake of pleasure? Ah, well! You are a matchless worker! Renowned as you are for your studious observation of all that may tend to the advancement of the nation's interests--admired as you are for the complete sacrifice of all your own advantages to the better welfare of the country, I will not (though I might as your sovereign), command your attendance on this occasion! I know the affairs you have in hand are pressing and serious!”
”They will be more than usually so, Sir,” said the Marquis in a low voice; ”for if you persist in maintaining your present att.i.tude, the foreign controversy in which we are engaged can scarcely go on. But your action will be questioned by the Government!”
The King laughed.
”Good! By all means question it, my dear Marquis! Prove me an unconst.i.tutional monarch, if you like, and put Humphry on the throne in my place,--but ask the People first! If they condemn me, I am satisfied to be condemned! But the present political difference between ourselves and a friendly nation must be arranged without offence. There does not exist at the moment any reasonable cause for fanning the dispute into a flame of war.”--He paused, then resumed--”You will not come with us?”
”Sir, if you will permit me to refuse the honour on this occasion----”
”The permission is granted!” replied the King, still smiling; ”Farewell, Marquis! We are not in the habit of absenting ourselves from our own country, after the fas.h.i.+on of certain of our Royal neighbours, who shall be nameless; and we conceive it our duty to make ourselves acquainted with the habits and customs of all our subjects in all quarters of our realm. Hence our resolve to visit The Islands, which, to our shame be it said, we have neglected until now. We expect to derive both pleasure and instruction from the brief voyage!”
”Are the islanders aware of your intention, Sir?” enquired the Marquis.
”Nay--to prepare them would have spoilt our pleasure!” replied the King.
”We will take them by surprise! We have heard of certain countries, whose villages and towns have never seen the reigning sovereign,--and though we have been but three years on the throne, we have resolved that no corner of our kingdom shall lack the sunlight of our presence!”