VIII + 

A Fair Cousin and a Dark Brother + 

A real kingтАЩs life is perhaps a hard one; but a pretended kingтАЩs is, I warrant, much harder. On the next day, Sapt instructed me in my dutiesтБатАФwhat I ought to do and what I ought to knowтБатАФfor three hours; then I snatched breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me, telling me that the king always took white wine in the morning and was known to detest all highly seasoned dishes. Then came the chancellor, for another three hours; and to him I had to explain that the hurt to my finger (we turned that bullet to happy account) prevented me from writingтБатАФwhence arose great to-do, hunting of precedents and so forth, ending in my тАЬmaking my mark,тАЭ and the chancellor attesting it with a superfluity of solemn oaths. Then the French ambassador was introduced, to present his credentials; here my ignorance was of no importance, as the king would have been equally raw to the business (we worked through the whole corps diplomatique in the next 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), had a brandy and soda brought to me, and observed to Sapt that I trusted that I might now have a rest. Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by. + 

тАЬBy heaven!тАЭ he cried, тАЬwe waste time. ArenтАЩt we going to throw Black Michael by the heels?тАЭ + 

тАЬGently, my son, gently,тАЭ said Sapt, knitting his brows. тАЬIt would be a pleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave the king alive?тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd,тАЭ I suggested, тАЬwhile the king is here in Strelsau, on his throne, what grievance has he against his dear brother Michael?тАЭ + 

тАЬAre we to do nothing, then?тАЭ + 

тАЬWeтАЩre to do nothing stupid,тАЭ growled Sapt. + 

тАЬIn fact, Fritz,тАЭ said I, тАЬI am reminded of a situation in one of our English playsтБатАФThe CriticтБатАФhave you heard of it? Or, if you like, of two men, each covering the other with a revolver. For I canтАЩt expose Michael without exposing myselfтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬAnd the king,тАЭ put in Sapt. + 

тАЬAnd, hang me if Michael wonтАЩt expose himself, if he tries to expose me!тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs very pretty,тАЭ said old Sapt. + 

тАЬIf IтАЩm found out,тАЭ I pursued, тАЬI will make a clean breast of it, and fight it out with the duke; but at present IтАЩm waiting for a move from him.тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩll kill the king,тАЭ said Fritz. + 

тАЬNot he,тАЭ said Sapt. + 

тАЬHalf of the Six are in Strelsau,тАЭ said Fritz. + 

тАЬOnly half? YouтАЩre sure?тАЭ asked Sapt eagerly. + 

тАЬYesтБатАФonly half.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen the kingтАЩs alive, for the other three are guarding him!тАЭ cried Sapt. + 

тАЬYesтБатАФyouтАЩre right!тАЭ exclaimed Fritz, his face brightening. тАЬIf the king were dead and buried, theyтАЩd all be here with Michael. You know MichaelтАЩs back, colonel?тАЭ + 

тАЬI know, curse him!тАЭ + 

тАЬGentlemen, gentlemen,тАЭ said I, тАЬwho are the Six?тАЭ + 

тАЬI think youтАЩll make their acquaintance soon,тАЭ said Sapt. тАЬThey are six gentlemen whom Michael maintains in his household; they belong to him body and soul. There are three Ruritanians; then thereтАЩs a Frenchman, a Belgian, and one of your countrymen.тАЭ + 

тАЬTheyтАЩd all cut a throat if Michael told them,тАЭ said Fritz. + 

тАЬPerhaps theyтАЩll cut mine,тАЭ I suggested. + 

тАЬNothing more likely,тАЭ agreed Sapt. тАЬWho are here, Fritz?тАЭ + 

тАЬDe Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe foreigners! ItтАЩs as plain as a pikestaff. HeтАЩs brought them, and left the Ruritanians with the king; thatтАЩs because he wants to commit the Ruritanians as deep as he can.тАЭ + 

тАЬThey were none of them among our friends at the lodge, then?тАЭ I asked. + 

тАЬI wish they had been,тАЭ said Sapt wistfully. тАЬThey had been, not six, but four, by now.тАЭ + 

I had already developed one attribute of royaltyтБатАФa feeling that I need not reveal all my mind or my secret designs even to my intimate friends. I had fully resolved on my course of action. I meant to make myself as popular 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 it appear, if an open conflict came about, that he was ungrateful and not oppressed. + 

Yet an open conflict was not what I hoped for. + 

The kingтАЩs interest demanded secrecy; and while secrecy lasted, I had a fine game to play in Strelsau. Michael should not grow stronger for delay! + 

I ordered my horse, and, attended by Fritz von Tarlenheim, rode in the grand new avenue of the Royal Park, returning all the salutes which I received with punctilious politeness. Then I rode through a few of the streets, stopped and bought flowers of a pretty girl, paying her with a piece of gold; and then, having attracted the desired amount of attention (for I had a trail of half a thousand people after me), I rode to the residence of the Princess Flavia, and asked if she would receive me. This step created much interest, and was met with shouts of approval. The princess was very popular, and the chancellor himself had not scrupled to hint to me that the more I pressed my suit, and the more rapidly I brought it to a prosperous conclusion, the stronger should I be in the affection of my subjects. The chancellor, of course, did not understand the difficulties which lay in the way of following his loyal and excellent advice. However, I thought I could do no harm by calling; and in this view Fritz supported me with a cordiality that surprised me, until he confessed that he also had his motives for liking a visit to the princessтАЩs house, which motive was no other than a great desire to see the princessтАЩs lady-in-waiting and bosom friend, the Countess Helga von Strofzin. + 

Etiquette seconded FritzтАЩs hopes. While I was ushered into the princessтАЩs room, he remained with the countess in the antechamber: in spite of the people and servants who were hanging about, I doubt not that they managed a t├кte-├а-t├кte; but I had no leisure to think of them, for I was playing the most delicate move in all my difficult game. I had to keep the princess devoted to meтБатАФand yet indifferent to me; I had to show affection for herтБатАФand not feel it. I had to make love for another, and that to a girl whoтБатАФprincess or no princessтБатАФwas the most beautiful I had ever seen. Well, I braced myself to the task, made no easier by the charming embarrassment with which I was received. How I succeeded in carrying out my programme will appear hereafter. + 

тАЬYou are gaining golden laurels,тАЭ she said. тАЬYou are like the prince in Shakespeare who was transformed by becoming king. But IтАЩm forgetting you are king, sire.тАЭ + 

тАЬI ask you to speak nothing but what your heart tells youтБатАФand to call me nothing but my name.тАЭ + 

She looked at me for a moment. + 

тАЬThen IтАЩm glad and proud, Rudolf,тАЭ said she. тАЬWhy, as I told you, your very face is changed.тАЭ + 

I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked the topic; so I said: + 

тАЬMy brother is back, I hear. He made an excursion, didnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, he is here,тАЭ she said, frowning a little. + 

тАЬHe canтАЩt stay long from Strelsau, it seems,тАЭ I observed, smiling. тАЬWell, we are all glad to see him. The nearer he is, the better.тАЭ + 

The princess glanced at me with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. + 

тАЬWhy, cousin? Is it that you canтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬSee better what heтАЩs doing? Perhaps,тАЭ said I. тАЬAnd why are you glad?тАЭ + 

тАЬI didnтАЩt say I was glad,тАЭ she answered. + 

тАЬSome people say so for you.тАЭ + 

тАЬThere are many insolent people,тАЭ she said, with delightful haughtiness. + 

тАЬPossibly you mean that I am one?тАЭ + 

тАЬYour Majesty could not be,тАЭ she said, curtseying in feigned deference, but adding, mischievously, after a pause: тАЬUnless, that isтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬWell, unless what?тАЭ + 

тАЬUnless you tell me that I mind a snap of my fingers where the Duke of Strelsau is.тАЭ + 

Really, I wished that I had been the king. + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt care where cousin MichaelтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬAh, cousin Michael! I call him the Duke of Strelsau.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou call him Michael when you meet him?тАЭ + 

тАЬYesтБатАФby the orders of your father.тАЭ + 

тАЬI see. And now by mine?тАЭ + 

тАЬIf those are your orders.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, decidedly! We must all be pleasant to our dear Michael.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou order me to receive his friends, too, I suppose?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe Six?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou call them that, too?тАЭ + 

тАЬTo be in the fashion, I do. But I order you to receive no one unless you like.тАЭ + 

тАЬExcept yourself?тАЭ + 

тАЬI pray for myself. I could not order.тАЭ + 

As I spoke, there came a cheer from the street. The princess ran to the window. + 

тАЬIt is he!тАЭ she cried. тАЬIt isтБатАФthe Duke of Strelsau!тАЭ + 

I smiled, but said nothing. She returned to her seat. For a few moments we sat in silence. The noise outside subsided, but I heard the tread of feet in the anteroom. I began to talk on general subjects. This went on for some minutes. I wondered what had become of Michael, but it did not seem to be for me to interfere. All at once, to my great surprise, Flavia, clasping her hands asked in an agitated voice: + 

тАЬAre you wise to make him angry?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat? Who? How am I making him angry?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy, by keeping him waiting.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear cousin, I donтАЩt want to keep himтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬWell, then, is he to come in?тАЭ + 

тАЬOf course, if you wish it.тАЭ + 

She looked at me curiously. + 

тАЬHow funny you are,тАЭ she said. тАЬOf course no one could be announced while I was with you.тАЭ + 

Here was a charming attribute of royalty! + 

тАЬAn excellent etiquette!тАЭ I cried. тАЬBut I had clean forgotten it; and if I were alone with someone else, couldnтАЩt you be announced?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou know as well as I do. I could be, because I am of the Blood;тАЭ and she still looked puzzled. + 

тАЬI never could remember all these silly rules,тАЭ said I, rather feebly, as I inwardly cursed Fritz for not posting me up. тАЬBut IтАЩll repair my fault.тАЭ + 

I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced into the anteroom. Michael was sitting at a table, a heavy frown on his face. Everyone else was standing, save that impudent young dog Fritz, who was lounging easily in an armchair, and flirting with the Countess Helga. He leapt up as I entered, with a deferential alacrity that lent point to his former nonchalance. I had no difficulty in understanding that the duke might not like young Fritz. + 

I held out my hand, Michael took it, and I embraced him. Then I drew him with me into the inner room. + 

тАЬBrother,тАЭ I said, тАЬif I had known you were here, you should not have waited a moment before I asked the princess to permit me to bring you to her.тАЭ + 

He thanked me, but coldly. The man had many qualities, but he could not hide his feelings. A mere stranger could have seen that he hated me, and hated worse to see me with Princess Flavia; yet I am persuaded that he tried to conceal both feelings, and, further, that he tried to persuade me that he believed I was verily the king. I did not know, of course; but, unless the king were an impostor, at once cleverer and more audacious than I (and I began to think something of myself in that role), Michael could not believe that. And, if he didnтАЩt, how he must have loathed paying me deference, and hearing my тАЬMichaelтАЭ and my тАЬFlavia!тАЭ + 

тАЬYour hand is hurt, sire,тАЭ he observed, with concern. + 

тАЬYes, I was playing a game with a mongrel dogтАЭ (I meant to stir him), тАЬand you know, brother, such have uncertain tempers.тАЭ + 

He smiled sourly, and his dark eyes rested on me for a moment. + 

тАЬBut is there no danger from the bite?тАЭ cried Flavia anxiously. + 

тАЬNone from this,тАЭ said I. тАЬIf I gave him a chance to bite deeper, it would be different, cousin.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut surely he has been destroyed?тАЭ said she. + 

тАЬNot yet. WeтАЩre waiting to see if his bite is harmful.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd if it is?тАЭ asked Michael, with his sour smile. + 

тАЬHeтАЩll be knocked on the head, brother,тАЭ said I. + 

тАЬYou wonтАЩt play with him any more?тАЭ urged Flavia. + 

тАЬPerhaps I shall.тАЭ + 

тАЬHe might bite again.тАЭ + 

тАЬDoubtless heтАЩll try,тАЭ said I, smiling. + 

Then, fearing Michael would say something which I must appear to resent (for, though I might show him my hate, I must seem to be full of favour), I began to compliment him on the magnificent condition of his regiment, and of their loyal greeting to me on the day of my coronation. Thence I passed to a rapturous description of the hunting lodge which he had lent me. But he rose suddenly to his feet. His temper was failing him, and, with an excuse, he said farewell. However, as he reached the door he stopped, saying: + 

тАЬThree friends of mine are very anxious to have the honour of being presented to you, sire. They are here in the antechamber.тАЭ + 

I joined him directly, passing my arm through his. The look on his face was honey to me. We entered the antechamber in fraternal fashion. Michael beckoned, and three men came forward. + 

тАЬThese gentlemen,тАЭ said Michael, with a stately courtesy which, to do him justice, he could assume with perfect grace and ease, тАЬare the loyalest and most devoted of your MajestyтАЩs servants, and are my very faithful and attached friends.тАЭ + 

тАЬOn the last ground as much as the first,тАЭ said I, тАЬI am very pleased to see them.тАЭ + 

They came one by one and kissed my handтБатАФDe Gautet, a tall lean fellow, with hair standing straight up and waxed moustache; Bersonin, the Belgian, a portly man of middle height with a bald head (though he was not far past thirty); and last, the Englishman, Detchard, a narrow-faced fellow, with close-cut fair hair and a bronzed complexion. He was a finely made man, broad in the shoulder and slender in the hips. A good fighter, but a crooked customer, I put him down for. I spoke to him in English, with a slight foreign accent, and I swear the fellow smiled, though he hid the smile in an instant. + 

тАЬSo Mr.┬аDetchard is in the secret,тАЭ thought I. + 

Having got rid of my dear brother and his friends, I returned to make my adieu to my cousin. She was standing at the door. I bade her farewell, taking her hand in mine. + 

тАЬRudolf,тАЭ she said, very low, тАЬbe careful, wonтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬOf what?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou knowтБатАФI canтАЩt say. But think what your life is toтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬWell toтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬTo Ruritania.тАЭ + 

Was I right to play the part, or wrong to play the part? I know not; evil lay both ways, and I dared not tell her the truth. + 

тАЬOnly to Ruritania?тАЭ I asked softly. + 

A sudden flush spread over her incomparable face. + 

тАЬTo your friends, too,тАЭ she said. + 

тАЬFriends?тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd to your cousin,тАЭ she whispered, тАЬand loving servant.тАЭ + 

I could not speak. I kissed her hand, and went out cursing myself. + 

Outside I found Master Fritz, quite reckless of the footmen, playing at catтАЩs-cradle with the Countess Helga. + 

тАЬHang it!тАЭ said he, тАЬwe canтАЩt always be plotting. Love claims his share.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm inclined to think he does,тАЭ said I; and Fritz, who had been by my side, dropped respectfully behind. + 