The King, left alone, fixed his eyes on the sparkling line of the sea, brightly blue, and the flower-bordered terrace in front of him. Life was becoming interesting;--the long burdensome monotony of years had changed into a variety of contrasting scenes and colours,--and in taking up the problem of human life as lived by others, more than as lived by himself, he had entered on a new path, untrodden by conventionalities, and leading, he knew not whither. But, having begun to walk in it, he was determined to go on--and to use each new experience as a guide for the rest of his actions. His son’s marriage with a commoner--one who indeed was not only a commoner but a foundling--might after all lead to good, if properly taken in hand,--and he resolved not to make the worst of it, but rather to let things take their own natural course. “For love,” he said to himself somewhat bitterly, “in nine cases out of ten ends in satiety,--marriage, in separation by mutual consent! Let the boy travel for a year, and forget, if he can, the fair face which captivates him,--for it is a fair face,--and more than that,--I honestly believe it is the reflex of a fair soul!” His eyes grew dreamy and absorbed; away on the horizon a little white cloud, shaped like the outspread wings of a dove, hovered over the sea just where The Islands lay. “Yes! Let him see new scenes--strange lands, and varying customs; let him hear modern opinions of life, instead of reading the philosophies of Aurelius and Epictetus, and the poetry written ages ago by the dead wild souls of the past;--and so he will forget--and all will be well! While for Gloria herself,--and the old revolutionist Ronsard--we shall doubtless find ways and means of consolation for them both!” Thus he mused,--yet in the very midst of his thoughts the echoing memory of a golden voice, round and rich with delight and triumph rang in his ears: “My King crown’d me! And I and he Are one till the world shall cease to be!” CHAPTER XVI THE PROFESSOR ADVISES “I have discovered the secret of successful living, Professor,” said the King, a couple of hours later as, walking in one of the many thickly wooded alleys of the palace grounds, he greeted Von Glauben, who had been told to meet him there, and who had been waiting the Royal approach with some little trepidation,--“It is this,--to draw a straight line of conduct, and walk in it, regardless of other people’s crooked curves!” The Professor looked at him, and saw nothing but kindliness expressed in his eyes and smile,--therefore, taking courage he replied without embarrassment,-- “Truly, Sir, if a man is brave enough to do this, he may conquer everything but death, and even face this last enemy without much alarm.” “I agree with you!” replied the monarch; “And Humphry’s line has certainly been straight enough, taken from the point of his own perspective! Do you not think so?” Von Glauben hesitated a moment--then spoke out boldly.