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"Cousin," said I, "I have a premonition that I shall not kill Prince Ernst of Wortumborg at six o'clock to-morrow morning." "What put that into your head? You are not going to back down, after all, are you?" "Decidedly not. Something strikes me that I shall miss fire." "Pshaw!" exclaimed Pembroke.
My jesting tone jarred on her nerves. She straightened in her chair. "Monsieur is amused," she said coldly. "And he asks a thousand pardons!" I cried contritely. "Command me," and I grew chilled and serious. "You have heard that I am to wed Prince Ernst of Wortumborg?" "Yes." I gnawed the ends of my mustache. "Monsieur, it is against my will, my whole being.
Later, I was informed that her escort was Prince Ernst of Wortumborg, who was destined to become her lord and master. I did not care who he was; I knew that I hated him. For a week I lingered on. I met her time and again; alone on horseback, at the various embassies and at the opera. At these meetings I learned a great deal about her.
The Princess Hildegarde accepted them, not counting the cost. Last spring she was coronated. Shortly before the coronation, Prince Ernst of Wortumborg became a suitor for her hand. The King was very much pleased. Prince Ernst was a cousin of the Princess Hildegarde's father, and had striven for the principality in the days gone by.
All at once I became aware of a man standing before me. He remained in that position so long that I glanced over the top of my paper. It was Prince Ernst of Wortumborg. He bowed. "May I claim your attention for a moment?" he asked. Had I been in any other place but the club I should have ignored him. I possessed the liveliest hatred for the man. "If you will be brief."
So long as it doesn't tremble, I have confidence of the end." We had scarcely finished our coffee when the Prince, followed by Von Walden, entered. "Pardon me," he said, "for having made you wait." "Permit me," said I, rising, "to present my second; Mr. Pembroke, His Highness Prince Ernst of Wortumborg." The two looked into each other's eyes for a space, and the Prince nodded approvingly.
You see, she is not my niece. There's a long story, This morning a gentleman visited my department. He was Prince Ernst of Wortumborg. He began by asking me if Phyllis was my niece. That started the business. He proceeded to prove to me, as far as possible, that Phyllis was a Princess. I could not say that it was all nonsense, because I did not know.
I refused to entertain the possibility of not finding him at the inn. I swore to heaven that the nuptials of the Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia and the Prince Ernst of Wortumborg should not be celebrated at noon, Thursday. I went into the bedroom. "Pembroke?" "What is it?" came drowsily. "I am going on a journey." "One of those cursed orders you get every other day?" he asked. "No.
But he was a moment too late. My hands were around the throat of Prince Ernst of Wortumborg, and I was shaking him till his teeth chattered on each other like castanets. Surely I would have throttled him but for the intervention of the Count and the cavalrymen. The Count swung his arm around my neck, while the cavalrymen, their sabre points at Hillars' breast, wrenched loose my hands.
"Then listen. I am a Prince without a principality; a Prince by courtesy, my brother ruling the principality of Wortumborg. Thus being without a principality, I am necessarily without revenues. I must replenish my very low exchequer by a marriage, a marriage not so distasteful as it might be." He met my darkening eyes with serenity.
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