Arms and the Woman - Page 143/169

I felt a thrill of pride, and I saw that Mr. Wentworth's lips had

formed into a "God bless her!"

"It is a question now," said the King, "only of duty."

"And Your Majesty's will regarding my marriage?" put in the Prince,

holding his watch in his hand. It was ten o'clock.

"Well, well! It shall be as you desire." Then to me: "I thank you in

the name of Their Highnesses for your services. And you, Mr.

Wentworth, shall always have the good will of the King for presenting

to his court so accomplished and beautiful a woman as Her Highness the

Princess Elizabeth. Hermann Breunner, return to your inn and remain

there; your countenance brings back disagreeable recollections. I

shall expect Your Highnesses at dinner this evening. Prince, I leave

to you the pleasant task of annulling your nuptial preparations. Good

morning. Ah! these women!" as he passed from the room. "They are our

mothers, so we must suffer their caprices."

And as we men followed him we saw Gretchen weeping silently on

Phyllis's shoulder.

The innkeeper touched the Prince.

"I give you fair warning," he said. "If our paths cross again, one of

us shall go on alone."

"I should be very lonely without you," laughed the Prince. "However,

rest yourself. As the King remarked, your face recalls unpleasant

memories. Our paths shall not cross again."

When the innkeeper and the Chancellor were out of earshot, I said: "She

is mine!"

"Not yet," the Prince said softly. "On Tuesday morn I shall kill you."