And then, well pleased with himself, the practical Fritz let his
romantic side appear again, and for two minutes or so he lived up to the
sky-like blueness of his eyes and the childlike gentleness of his face,
and because his heart was very full of love he talked his own native
German, and not Jingalese any more.

And these two sides of him are here given so that the reader, if kindly
anxious about Charlotte's future, may trouble about her no more; for
when your idealist is also a very practical man of business he can, up
to the capacity of his brain-power, go anywhere and do anything, and
even in a land that is outside Baedeker will assuredly find his feet.
Not for nothing had Prince Hans Fritz Otto of Schnapps-Wasser turned his
bottled industry of home-waters into a company.

In tentative motherings of her gigantic babe, Charlotte had forgotten
all about money and business affairs when once more the practical man in
him came out of childish disguise to make an inquiry.

"Beloved," said he, "tell me--was he that man?"

"Which man?" inquired Charlotte innocently.

"The one that you wrestled with?"

Charlotte nodded; a smile flickered over her face.

"And you got him down?"

"Yes."

"Quite down?"

"As flat as he could go."

"And that is why you marry me?"

The two lovers exchanged sweet looks of candor and honesty.

"Yes," said Charlotte, smiling, "that is why."

"O Beloved," murmured the infatuated Fritz, "how beautifully you do tell
lies."

CHAPTER XXIII

"CALL ME JACK!"

It was noticed when the King came down to the first Council of the new
session that his face was flushed and his manner strangely discomposed.
He barely returned the respectful greetings of his ministers, and by
postponement of the customary invitation to be seated, kept them out of
their chairs for quite an appreciable time. Standing awkwardly about
the board they looked like a group of carrion crows awaiting the
symptoms of death before descending to their meal. To none did he accord
any word of personal recognition.

Even when proceedings had commenced it was evident that his attention
constantly wandered, only returning by fits and starts at the call of
some chance phrase on which now and again he would seize, remarking in a
tone of irritation, "And what does this mean, please?" And thereafter he
would require to be instructed at some length, as though he had
forgotten all current or preceding events.

In con