A Fair Cousin and a Dark BrotherA real king's life is perhaps a hard one; but a pretended king's is, Iwarrant, much harder. On the next day, Sapt instructed me in my duties-whatI ought to do and what I ought to know-- for three hours; then Isnatched breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me, telling me that the Kingalways took white wine in the morning and was known to detest all highlyseasoned dishes. Then came the Chancellor, for another three hours; and tohim I had to explain that the hurt to my finger (we turned that bullet tohappy account) prevented me from writing--whence arose great to-do,hunting of precedents and so forth, ending in my "making my mark," andthe Chancellor attesting it with a superfluity of solemn oaths. Then theFrench ambassador was introduced, to present his credentials; here myignorance was of no importance, as the King would have been equally rawto the business (we worked through the whole corps diplomatique in thenext few days, a demise of the Crown necessitating all this bother).

　　Then, at last, I was left alone. I called my new servant (we had chosen,to succeed poor Josef, a young man who had never known the King), hada brandy-and-soda brought to me, and observed to Sapt that I trusted that Imight now have a rest. Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by.

　　"By heaven!" he cried, "we waste time. Aren't we going to throwBlack Michael by the heels?""Gently, my son, gently," said Sapt, knitting his brows. "It would be apleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave the Kingalive?""And," I suggested, "while the King is here in Strelsau, on his throne,what grievance has he against his dear brother Michael?""Are we to do nothing, then?""We're to do nothing stupid," growled Sapt.

　　"In fact, Fritz," said I, "I am reminded of a situation in one of ourEnglish plays--The Critic--have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of twomen, each covering the other with a revolver. For I can't expose Michael without exposing myself--""And the King," put in Sapt.

　　"And, hang me if Michael won't expose himself, if he tries to exposeme!""It's very pretty," said old Sapt.

　　"If I'm found out," I pursued, "I will make a clean breast of it, andfight it out with the duke; but at present I'm waiting for a move from him.""He'll kill the King," said Fritz.

　　"Not he," said Sapt.

　　"Half of the Six are in Strelsau," said Fritz.

　　"Only half? You're sure?" asked Sapt eagerly.

　　"Yes--only half.""Then the King's alive, for the other three are guarding him!" criedSapt.

　　"Yes--you're right!" exclaimed Fritz, his face brightening. "If the Kingwere dead and buried, they'd all be here with Michael. You knowMichael's back, colonel?""I know, curse him!""Gentlemen, gentlemen," said I, "who are the Six?""I think you'll make their acquaintance soon," said Sapt. "They are sixgentlemen whom Michael maintains in his household: they belong to himbody and soul. There are three Ruritanians; then there's a Frenchman, aBelgian, and one of your countrymen.""They'd all cut a throat if Michael told them," said Fritz.

　　"Perhaps they'll cut mine," I suggested.

　　"Nothing more likely," agreed Sapt. "Who are here, Fritz?""De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard.""The foreigners! It's as plain as a pikestaff. He's brought them, and leftthe Ruritanians with the King; that's because he wants to commit theRuritanians as deep as he can.""They were none of them among our friends at the lodge, then?" Iasked.

　　"I wish they had been," said Sapt wistfully. "They had been, not six,but four, by now."I had already developed one attribute of royalty--a feeling that I neednot reveal all my mind or my secret designs even to my intimate friends. Ihad fully resolved on my course of action. I meant to make myself aspopular as I could, and at the same time to show no disfavour to Michael.

　　By these means I hoped to allay the hostility of his adherents, and make itappear, if an open conflict came about, that he was ungrateful and notoppressed.

　　Yet an open conflict was not what I hoped for.

　　The King's interest demanded secrecy; and while secrecy lasted, I hada fine game to play in Strelsau, Michael should not grow stronger fordelay!

　　I ordered my horse, and, attended by Fritz von Tarlenheim, rode in thegrand new avenue of the Royal Park, returning all the salutes which Ireceived with punctilious politeness. Then I rode through a few of thestreets, stopped and bought flowers of a pretty girl, paying her with a pieceof gold; and then, having attracted the desired amount of attention (for Ihad a trail of half a thousand people after me), I rode to the residence ofthe Princess Flavia, and asked if she would receive me. This step createdmuch interest, and was met with shouts of approval. The princess was verypopular, and the Chancellor himself had not scrupled to hint to me that themore I pressed my suit, and the more rapidly I brought it to a prosperousconclusion, the stronger should I be in the affection of my subjects. TheChancellor, of course, did not understand the difficulties which lay in theway of following his loyal and excellent advice. However, I thought Icould do no harm by calling; and in this view Fritz supported me with acordiality that surprised me, until he confessed that he also had hismotives for liking a visit to the princess's house, which motive was noother than a great desire to see the princess's lady-in-waiting and bosomfriend, the Countess Helga von Strofzin.

　　Etiquette seconded Fritz's hopes. While I was ushered into theprincess's room, he remained with the countess in the ante-chamber: inspite of the people and servants who were hanging about, I doubt not thatthey managed a tete-a-tete; but I had no leisure to think of them, for I wasplaying the most delicate move in all my difficult game. I had to keep the princess devoted to me--and yet indifferent to me: I had to show affectionfor her--and not feel it. I had to make love for another, and that to a girlwho--princess or no princess--was the most beautiful I had ever seen. Well,I braced myself to the task, made no easier by the charmingembarrassment with which I was received. How I succeeded in carryingout my programme will appear hereafter.

　　"You are gaining golden laurels," she said. "You are like the prince inShakespeare who was transformed by becoming king. But I'm forgettingyou are King, sire.""I ask you to speak nothing but what your heart tells you-- and to callme nothing but my name."She looked at me for a moment.

　　"Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf," said she. "Why, as I told you, yourvery face is changed."I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked the topic; so I said:

　　"My brother is back, I hear. He made an excursion, didn't he?""Yes, he is here," she said, frowning a little.

　　"He can't stay long from Strelsau, it seems," I observed, smiling. "Well,we are all glad to see him. The nearer he is, the better."The princess glanced at me with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

　　"Why, cousin? Is it that you can--?""See better what he's doing? Perhaps," said I. "And why are you glad?""I didn't say I was glad," she answered.

　　"Some people say so for you.""There are many insolent people," she said, with delightfulhaughtiness............