uppose
he thinks that I can't do anything," mused the King. "Well, well, we
shall see."

And then he inquired whether the Prime Minister had interviewed Prince
Max.

"I have not, sir; but I have seen the Archbishop."

"You have been talking to the Archbishop about it?" cried the King
sharply.

"At great length, sir," replied the Prime Minister.

"Then I must say that you have taken a most unwarranted liberty! You
have gone entirely beyond and behind my authority. No, it is no use for
you to protest, Mr. Premier; I did consent that you should speak to the
Prince; but beyond that--until it had been thoroughly discussed with
him--what I communicated to you was entirely confidential and private."

"An affair of such importance, sir, cannot possibly be private."

"It can have its private preliminaries--otherwise where would be
diplomacy?"

"The Prince might any day have taken overt action--he might even have
announced the engagement."

"He might, but he did not! And without even seeing him you have been
behind his back and discussed it with the Archbishop! And pray, with
what result?"

"At present, sir, I am not in a position to say, but I have good hopes.
We are still in correspondence. I assure your Majesty that my conscience
is clear in the matter."

"Your conscience, Mr. Prime Minister, has an easy way of clearing
itself; you lay the burden of it on me! Yes, this is the second bomb
that has been dropped upon me from Government back premises, and I am
tired of it; I am not going to stand it any longer! In this matter of
the Prince's engagement you and I were in entire agreement; but now you
have so acted that you have endangered the relations--the very friendly
and affectionate relations--between the Prince and myself. I hardly know
how I shall be able to look him in the face. I give him my consent; and
then I suddenly turn round and I work against him; I go behind his back,
yes, I steal a march upon him--that is how it will appear. And if he so
accuses me, what am I to say?"

"I appreciate your Majesty's feelings; but I say, sir, that any
sacrifice was necessary to prevent so dangerous a proposal from going
further."

"No!" cried the King, "no! not of straightforward dealing and of honor!
That is what comes of being mixed up in politics. People forget what
honor means, their sense of it becomes blunted. Unfortunately mine does
not! Mr. Premier, you have profoundly distressed me; you have made my
positi