“Listen, my princess,--listen to your poor old friend, who means you so much good, and no harm at all! Your husband--and I too, for that matter,--wished much to prevent the King from seeing you--for--for many reasons. When I heard he was coming to The Islands, I resolved to arrive here before him, and so I did. I said nothing to Ronsard, not even to warn him of the King’s impending visit. I took you just quietly, as I have often done, for a walk, with a book to read and to explain to you, because you tell me you want to study; though in my opinion you know quite enough--for a woman. I gave you a letter from your husband, and you know he asked you in that letter to avoid all possibility of meeting with the King. Good! Well, now, what happens? You sing--and lo! his Majesty, like a fish on a hook, is drawn up open-mouthed to your feet! Now, who is to blame? You or I?” A little perplexed line appeared on the girl’s fair brows. “I am, I suppose!” she said somewhat plaintively,--“But yet, even now, I do not understand. What is the King? He is nothing! He does nothing for anybody! People make petitions to him, and he never answers them--they try to point out errors and abuses, and he takes no trouble to remedy them--he is no better than a wooden idol! He is not a real man, though he looks like one.” “Oh, you think he looks like one?” murmured Von Glauben; “That is to say you are not altogether displeased with his appearance?” Gloria’s eyes darkened a moment with thought,--then flashed with laughter. “No,” she said frankly--“He is more kingly than I thought a king could be. But he should not lose temper. That spoils all dignity!” Von Glauben smiled. “Kings are but mortal,” he said, “and never to lose temper would be impossible to any man.” “It is such a waste of time!” declared Gloria--“Why should anyone lose self-control? It is like giving up a sword to an enemy.” “That is one of Réné Ronsard’s teachings,”--said the Professor--“It is excellent in theory! But in practice I have seen Réné give way to temper himself, with considerable enjoyment of his own mental thunderstorm. As for the King, he is generally a very equable personage; and he has one great virtue--that is courage. He is brave as a lion--perhaps braver than many lions!” She raised her eyes enquiringly. “Has he proved it?” Rather taken aback by the question, he stared at her solemnly. “Proved it? Well! He has had no chance. The country has been at peace for many years--but if there should ever be a war----” “Would he go and fight for the country?” enquired Gloria. “In person? No. He would not be allowed to do that. His life would be endangered----” “Of course!” interrupted the girl with a touch of contempt; “But if he would allow himself to be ruled by others in such a matter, I do not call him brave!” The Professor drew out his spectacles, and fixing them on his nose with much care, regarded her through them with bland and kindly interest.