The description of the Emperor’s duplicity and contemptible meanness was given with ruthless vividness, when at the moment he was surprised, he endeavoured to turn the tables on the high-minded lady, who having proved invulnerable to all his blandishments he accused of having committed the capital offence of high treason. From the commoner, to the crowned head of every country, almost, the story of the Emperor of the Teutonic Empire and his astronomer was discussed. In the cottage, the castle, the street corner, the court and the club, it became at once the leading subject of conversation. ‘Ah, well!’ observed one of the viceroys of Turkey—for that country had been long before divided between Russia, France and England—‘this comes of giving women too much freedom: had it been a man that was filling the post of astronomer this could never have happened.’ ‘But it might to his wife!’ answered one, ‘With a different result,’ added another; ‘Is then a married woman more compliant than a single?’ queried a third. ‘It all depends upon the sort of woman,’ observed a fourth. ‘The danger is lessened when the lady already runs a nursery,’ remarked his neighbour cynically. ‘Science meets that difficulty,’ interpolated another of the party. ‘A husband’s jealousy is the greatest of all dangers,’ retorted his neighbour. ‘Cease these pleasantries, gentlemen, and discuss the matter seriously,’ exclaimed an elderly minister with dignity, ‘England is to be indeed congratulated on having women of such stamp as the peerless and incorruptible Mercia. Search the world through and we shall be unable to find any to compare with them in physique, or mental attainments. They are indeed, Nature’s queens, and in every way fit to grace a coronet.’ ‘Talking of coronets reminds one of crowns: there’s a pretty hubbub going on just now; India expects to win her freedom and is casting about for an Emperor,’ remarked another; ‘Why not give it to Mercia, she’s as good as a man?’ suggested his neighbour. ‘Better, I should say,’ rejoined another of the group, ‘judging from results.’ ‘The natives would never stand it: every nabob wants it for himself.’ ‘All cannot have it, that is very clear,’ remarked one of the party. ‘Better settle the matter by giving it to none of them, and choose a good stock from the country that ruled them, and made them what they are; and thus establish a Royal Line which will do them credit for all time,’ suggested the elderly minister, who was a Frenchman and a believer in women, and especially a believer in the beautiful Mercia. CHAPTER VI We must leave these gentlemen in the far East, and come back to Greenwich. While the Emperor was returning to London he cast about in his mind for some way out of his difficulty. He felt it was little use seeking the assistance of his royal consort, Catherine, daughter of Nicholas of Russia.