“Are we alone, and unobserved?” he demanded of his companion. “Absolutely so, my liege,” returned Captain Roburoff, in accents that suggested a certain difficulty in speaking. The King turned majestically to Mansfield, who half expected to hear himself addressed as “Minion.” “Tell Count Mortimer that I wish to see him,” he said. “I will inquire whether his Excellency is at leisure, sir,” responded Mansfield, who would have given much to deny the monarch admittance altogether. But although Cyril raised his eyebrows quizzically, and asked whether Mansfield would wish to be present during the interview, he rose at once and came to the door to welcome his royal visitor. “To what am I indebted for this supreme honour, sir?” he inquired when they were alone. “Be seated, Count,” replied King Michael affably. “I am here on a friendly errand, I assure you.” Cyril bowed and obeyed, and his visitor continued-- “I perceive, Count, that you are surprised by this private visit. No doubt it will surprise you still more to learn that it is merely an earnest of my good-will towards you. I admit that when I came to the throne I acted hastily in accepting your resignation, but no one can regret it more than I do. I look to you, as a fair-minded man, to place the blame where it is due. My mind had been poisoned against you--by whom, you can guess.” Cyril bowed again in silence. King Michael went on-- “I have made up my mind to redress the injustice into which I was hurried. In their eagerness to aggrandise their own family, my mother and the Princess of Dardania induced me to engage myself to Princess Ludmilla, and by means of this quasi-promise the Princess of Dardania has contrived to exercise a wholly unwarranted authority over myself and the kingdom. I have determined to put an end to it. The Princess’s influence is injurious to Thracia, and her daughter is personally distasteful to myself. The position which she hopes to occupy I destine for your niece, Lady Philippa Mortimer, and I desire your assistance in the matter.” “Well?” interjected Cyril, with startling suddenness. “I think you forget to whom you are speaking, Count.” “No, sir. I do not forget that for the sake of the girl you now wish to cast aside you broke the heart of the mother who had sacrificed her life’s happiness for you and your kingdom.” The King’s sallow face grew livid. “If all that is said is true, you are not the man to talk to me of cruelty to her Majesty, Count.” “At least I can say that I have repented my cruelty from that day to this. You have not.” Cyril’s eyes were flashing, and his even voice was charged with thunder. King Michael and he had both risen to their feet, and were confronting each other angrily across the table.