Güldmar looked thoughtful. "I know little about kings or princes," he said, "but it seems to me, from what I do know, that they have but small power. They are mere puppets. In olden times they possessed supremacy, but now--"
"I will tell you," interrupted Duprèz excitedly, "who it is that rules the people in these times,--it is the Pen--Madame La Plume. A little black, sharp, scratching devil she is,--empress of all nations! No crown but a point,--no royal robe save ink! It is certain that as long as Madame la Plume gambols freely over her realms of paper, so long must kings and autocrats shake in their shoes and be uncertain of their thrones. Mon Dieu! if I had but the gift of writing, I would conquer the world!"
"There are an immense number of people writing just now, Pierre," remarked Lorimer, with a smile, "yet they don't do much in the conquering line."
"Because they are afraid!" said Duprèz. "Because they have not the courage of their opinions! Because they dare not tell the truth!"
"Upon my life, I believe you are right!" said Errington. "If there were a man bold enough to declare truths and denounce lies, I should imagine it quite possible that he might conquer the world,--or, at any rate, make it afraid of him."
"But is the world so full of lies?" asked Thelma timidly.
Lorimer looked at her gravely. "I fear so, Miss Güldmar! I think it has a tolerable harvest of them every year,--a harvest, too, that never fails! But I say, Phil! Look at the sun shining! Let us go up on deck,--we shall soon be getting back to the Altenfjord."
They all rose, threw on their caps, and left the saloon with the exception of Errington, who lingered behind, watching his opportunity, and as Thelma followed her father he called her back softly-"Thelma!"
She hesitated, and then turned towards him,--her father saw her movement, smiled at her, and nodded kindly, as he passed through the saloon doors and disappeared. With a beating heart, she sprang quickly to her lover's side, and as he caught her in his arms, she whispered-"You have told him?"
"Your father? Yes, my darling!" murmured Philip, as he kissed her sweet, upturned lips. "Be quite happy--he knows everything. Come, Thelma! tell me again you love me--I have not heard you say it properly yet!"