Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 24, 2025
Perhaps, thought the American, Colonel Von Ritz was becoming an obsession with him, merely because he stood for Galavia and the threat of royalty's mandate. He was convinced of this later in the day, when he once more fancied that a disappearing pair of broad shoulders belonged to the European. This time he laughed at the idea. The surroundings made the supposition ludicrous.
In their center, also seated on the earth, was the Queen of Galavia. She was dressed in a short walking skirt and a blue jersey, and as the man gripped the pine root to which he held, and gazed over, she lifted an outstretched finger of a gauntleted hand in illustration of some particularly wonderful point of what was palpably a particularly wonderful fairy story.
Then Benton spoke. "In God's name, Manuel, what do I care who occupies the throne of Galavia? No other man could so block my path as Karyl." Then as one in the confessional he declared shamefacedly: "I have never said it to any man because it is too much like murder, but sometimes I wish I had reached Cadiz one day later than I did."
"Realizing that Cara could not hope to escape a royal marriage, her father looked toward Galavia. There at least the strain was clean ... untouched by degeneracy and untainted with libertinism. Karyl is as decent a chap as yourself. He loves her, and though he knows she accepts him only from compulsion, he believes he can eventually win her love as well as her mere acquiescence.
"God grant that Your Majesty may be in no actual danger. But we must face the situation open-eyed. Your place is here. If by mischance you should fall, there is no reason why " he hesitated, then added "why the dynasty should end with you. In Galavia there is no Salic law. Her Majesty could reign. Undoubtedly the Queen should be in some safer place."
There was a murmur of compliment from the Turk, adding his assurance of interest, and the Frenchman took up the thread of his narrative. "We supposed that Karyl was dead the Throne of Galavia clear for Delgado. Alas, we were in error!" The speaker shook his head in deep regret, as, turning to Martin, he added: "It was a pardonable mistake. Let us hope the announcement was merely premature."
Yet on that occasion heliographs reported his movements; the King's escort was doubled and the King went little abroad." "Who stands at Louis' back? Revolutionists?" "Dios! No, Señor. The Galavians are cattle. Karyl or Louis, it is one to them. Galavia is a key. The key cares not at what porter's belt it jingles. Europe cares who opens and closes the lock. Comprende?
I had thought that whatever is left of life belonged just to me for my very own. I thought I could take it away and try to mend it." Von Ritz turned his head and his eyes traveled northward and westward, where, somewhere beyond the horizon, lay his country. "Galavia needs you," he said with grave simplicity. "Unless you come to her aid there must be ruin and dismemberment.
"And yet, Manuel," the American smiled half-quizzically, "yet we seem foreordained to play bodyguard to Karyl. Fate throws him on our hands." "We might decline in future to accept the charge." Benton halted so close to the water's edge that a bit of sea-weed was washed up close to his feet. "Any threat to the throne of Galavia now is also a threat to Her.
When Reebeler's eyes came up questioningly to his own, he, too, was looking off through the raised window where the limp curtain barely trembled in the light breeze. "The ring is interesting," suggested the Consul. "The arms seem to be those of a family of Galavia which is connected with Royalty. Did you pick it up in a curio shop? If so, some servant must have stolen it." Blanco stood up.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking