Part 47 (2/2)
”There now,” said the Queen, when she and her family were weary of bowing their acknowledgments, ”that will do. Now go quietly away, like respectable loyal persons, and tell all the other citizens what we're doing for them.”
”I must say, my love,” observed the King, after the crowd had melted away in a vastly different mood from that in which they had come, ”you showed wonderful presence of mind. I quite thought myself we should have been ma.s.sacred.”
”And so we _should_ have been, Sidney,” she replied, ”if I'd left it to _you_!”
On re-entering the Palace they heard that the Council was still sitting.
”_Let_ 'em sit!” cried Clarence. ”This'll be a bit of a suck for them.
What price a Republic _now_, eh?”
”They simply _daren't_ depose us!” said the Queen, ”now the dear people are with us heart and soul!”
Some time later, while they were sitting in the lapis-lazuli Chamber, a page entered to announce that a messenger had just arrived with tidings which he wished to communicate to their Majesties in private. ”Tell him to come in,” said the Queen. ”I do hope it isn't some fresh trouble!”
The messenger brought grave news. The Marshal, it appeared, had been killed while hunting in the Forest. Particulars were wanting, but there was no doubt that he was dead.
”How very very sad!” exclaimed the Queen. ”The poor dear Marshal! To be cut off like this in the prime of life! It must have been a wild boar, I suppose--_or_ a bear. But, whichever it was, it is a terrible loss. I don't know exactly how long the Court ought to go into mourning for an ex-Regent--but at _least_ a month!”
She was shocked, of course, by the suddenness of it. At the same time she could not help a renewed sense of grat.i.tude to Providence, which had once more gone out of its way to smooth her path. ”I've always said hunting these wild animals is a very dangerous sport,” said King Sidney.
”Glad you've given it up, my boy!”
”Fed up with it, Guv'nor. But I dare say I shall go in for it again--some day or other,” Clarence replied, while he was thinking that it would have to be a day when he discovered what had become of his irresistible sword, and when he could find a horse among his numerous stud that would permit him to get on its back.
They were still discussing the Marshal's untimely end when an usher came from the Hall of Council with a message that the Councillors had ended their deliberations, and requested their Majesties to honour them by attending to hear their decision.
”I like their nerve!” remarked Clarence. ”Of course, Guv'nor, you'll tell 'em they've jolly well got to come to _us_, what?”
”No, Sidney,” said Queen Selina, flushed with her recent victory, ”you will say that we are coming in presently to preside over the Council and give them our advice. I shall know how to put them in their proper places. I shall wear my crown again, and you had better put on yours, and--yes, I should certainly take your sceptre too.”
She kept them waiting as long as her own dignity demanded, and then sailed into the Council Chamber, the King and Crown Prince following in her wake. The whole Council rose and remained standing until the Royal Family had taken their seats under a canopy.
The President then informed them that the Councillors had resolved to use every means to prevent a union which, if contracted, would infallibly cover the entire Kingdom with contempt.
”Oh, very _well_, gentlemen,” said the Queen. ”_I_ should have thought even that was better than having it covered with water--but if you in your wisdom think otherwise, we bow to your superior judgment.” And she explained the situation much as she had done to the mob at the gates, though with less effect, for the President's answer was that, if such were the alternatives, their Majesties would best show their anxiety for their subjects' welfare by abdicating immediately.
”I don't see that at all,” she retorted. ”Why in the world _should_ we?”
”Because,” was the reply, ”when this so-called King of the Crystal Lake learns that your son is no longer a Prince, he will cease to desire him for his daughter.”
”And may I ask, supposing we did abdicate, whom do you propose to put in our place?” inquired the Queen.
”We should appoint Marshal Federhelm as Regent once more--or even elect him Sovereign.”
”A very pretty plan!” replied Queen Selina, ”only there's one objection to it, as you would know if you hadn't shut yourselves up here all day.
You will be sorry to hear that the poor Marshal was killed this very afternoon while hunting. So you can't get _him_. And, as there's no one else available, and as my husband and I feel that it would be very wrong to desert our dear people when they've just a.s.sured us of their perfect loyalty and affection--(_another_ fact you seem to be ignorant of!)--I'm afraid, gentlemen, that, whether you like it or not, you will have to put up with us.”
”It is true, O Queen!” the President admitted with a deep groan. ”We can do naught except pray that Heaven may yet save this most unhappy Country from so deep a degradation!” And all the other Members of the Council groaned too, while several beat their b.r.e.a.s.t.s or tore their long white beards in senile wrath and despair.
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