“I think so--for him. He won’t object to Usk’s marrying Helene, though he doesn’t approve of it, and I am thankful for that. And he approves of all that has been arranged about Michael--thinks that Molzau is quite the best place for the wedding, and that your idea of getting my aunt Amalie to escort Félicia to meet her father’s people is excellent. But, Cyril----” “I thought there was something behind. What is it?” “I don’t think he wants you to be at the wedding.” “Is that all? I never thought of being there. The apple of discord would be nothing to me. The party would scarcely separate without bloodshed.” “Then I shall certainly not go either.” “My dear Ernestine, you must. How could you, Michael’s own mother, and on excellent terms with him, be absent? Without me you will have no difficulties about precedence. Do you think I could stand your reducing yourself to a Countess, as I know you would do when you saw me relegated to my proper place? You must think of Michael’s feelings a little.” “I shall speak to Michael. He can’t be so ungrateful as to let you be slighted after all you have done for him.” “What can Michael do when he comes in conflict with the unbending laws of etiquette? No, Ernestine, listen; I have it all nicely mapped out. We shall both be at Helene’s wedding, at any rate; we won’t let them do me out of that. Then we will pick up your aunt Amalie and run down to Nice again, and see Félicia safely into the hands of her father’s family. You will return to Molzau for the wedding, and I shall go on to Thracia. Michael and Mirkovics have give me _carte blanche_ as to reorganising the government offices, so as to prevent corruption in future, and you will join me at Bellaviste. Then we shall be ready to welcome Michael and Félicia, and as soon as they have settled down we will take our leave and be off to Sitt Zeynab, and spend a quiet old age dispensing justice to the Arabs under our own palm-trees.” “But I would rather not wait for that until after the wedding. I should like to go back at once, Cyril--at once, this very day.” “I’m afraid we can’t annihilate time and space quite to that extent. But I suppose this means that the Emperor has been saying unpleasant things? I have had Helene here, drowned in tears, and offering to give up Usk if his marrying her would really bring me into danger. What does the man mean by trying to frighten two women? Why not say what he has to say to me?” “He told me distinctly that you were in danger as long as you remained in Europe and persisted in your schemes. Poor little Lenchen must have heard the same.”