“You are satisfied, Madam, I presume?” went on the King addressing his Consort;--“The girl could hardly make a more earnest vow of abnegation than she has done. And when Humphry has travelled for a year and seen other lands, other manners, and other faces, we may look upon this boyish incident in his career as finally closed. I think both you and I can rest assured that there will be no further cause for anxiety?” He put the question carelessly. The Queen bent her head in acquiescence, but her eyes were fixed upon her son, who still said nothing. “We have not received any promise from Humphry himself,” she said; “Apparently he is not disposed to take a similar oath of loyalty!” “Truly, Madam, you judge me rightly for once!” said the Prince, quietly; “I am certainly not disposed to do anything but to be master of my own thoughts and actions.” “Remain so, Humphry, by all means!” said the King indulgently. “The present circumstances being so far favourable, we exact nothing more from you. Love will be love, and passion must have its way with boys of your age. I impose no further restriction upon you. The girl’s own word is to me sufficient bond for the preservation of your high position. All young men have their little secret love-affairs; we shall not blame you for yours now, seeing, as we do, the satisfactory end of it in sight! But I fear we are detaining you!” This with elaborate politeness. “If you wish to follow your fair _inamorata_, the way is clear! You may retire!” Without any haste, but with formal military stiffness the Prince saluted,--and turning slowly on his heel, left the presence-chamber. Alone, the King and his beautiful Queen-Consort looked questioningly at one another. “What think you, Madam, of the heroine of this strange love-story?” he asked with a touch of bitterness in his voice. “Does it not strike you that even in this arid world of much deception, there may be after all such a thing as innocence?--such a treasure as true and trusting love? Were not the eyes of this girl Gloria, when lifted to your face, something like the eyes of a child who has just said its prayers to God,--who fears nothing and loves all? Yet I doubt whether you were moved!” “Were you?” she asked indifferently, yet with a strange fluttering at her heart, which she could not herself comprehend.