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"The girl was certainly beautiful," he proceeded meditatively; "And her adopted father, Rene Ronsard, was not that his name? was a quaint old fellow. A republican, too! fiery as a new Danton! Well! The King's curiosity is apparently satisfied on that score, but" here he began to laugh "I shall never forget your face, Von Glauben, when he caught you on The Islands that day! never!
You are weak and ailing! there is no force in you to combat with the elements on such a night as this " "There is force!" said Ronsard; "The force of my thirst for atonement! Let me be, for God's sake! Let me do something useful in my life! let me try to save the King! If I die, so much the better." "Then I will go with you!" said Von Glauben, desperately. Ronsard shook his head. "You?
But after all, nothing is changed, save our names and the titles we bear; we are the same men, the same friends, the same comrades! and so I trust we shall remain!" The cheering broke out again, and Sir Roger de Launay, who was quite as overwhelmed with astonishment at the courage and coolness of his Royal master as any Revolutionist present, joined in it with a will, as did Von Glauben.
And the sweet voice laughed out again. "It would be strange indeed for a poor sailor to be jealous of a king!" "If the poor sailor had a beautiful wife he worshipped, and the King should admire the wife, he might have cause to be jealous!" replied Von Glauben; "And with some ladies, a poor sailor would stand no chance against a king! Why are you so rebellious, my princess, to-day?
"Serious matters demand coolness," replied Von Glauben. "We should only let steam out over trifles. Have you seen his Majesty this morning?" "Yes. I am to see him again at noon." "When do you go off duty?" "Not for a month, at least." "Much may happen in that month," said the Professor sententiously; "Your hair may grow white with the strangeness of your experiences!"
Sir Roger watched them as they disappeared, and saw, that at the furthest end of the alley, when they were well out of ear-shot, they appeared to engage in very close and confidential conversation. "I wonder," he mused, "I wonder what it all means? Von Glauben is evidently mixed up in some affair that he wishes to keep secret from the King. Can it concern Prince Humphry? And The Islands!
Others were grouped round Paul Zouche, who had sat apparently stricken immovable in his chair ever since the King had declared his identity; and others showed themselves somewhat inclined to 'hustle' Sir Roger de Launay and Professor von Glauben, who guarded the approach to the platform like sentinels, though they were discreet enough to show no weapons of defence. "Comrades!"
A hundred hands at once proffered assistance; Sir Roger de Launay, pale to the lips with the shock of sick horror he had experienced at what might so easily have been a national catastrophe, assisted the police in forming a strong cordon round the person of his beloved Royal master, in order to guard him against any further possible attack, and Professor von Glauben, obeying the King's signal, knelt down by the unconscious woman's side to examine the extent of her injury.
Von Glauben told me you were stricken dumb, and almost stupefied at sight of her " "Damn Von Glauben!" said the King. His son smiled ever so slightly, but continued. "You have made yourself acquainted with her history "
Meanwhile, in the thick darkness of the hall below, while Von Glauben and De Launay were groping their way to the door which was cautiously held open by Sholto, Lotys, moving with hesitating steps down the stairs, felt rather than saw a head turned back upon her, a flash of eyes in the darkness, and heard her name breathed softly: "Lotys!"
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