d the Queen. "She told me about being engaged to
the King and thinking that he was going to marry me. Of course, when
she thought that she came here as quick as ever she could to see him.
Any one would. Not that I'd ever think such a thing about Maurice. But
then he wouldn't. Still, I quite understand her coming here in a boat.
But I do wonder what made her think he was going to marry me. He
never even tried. Who could have told her such a thing?"

"Probably the Emperor," said Gorman.

The Queen burst out laughing.

"I believe," she said, "that if the house fell down and Kalliope
eloped with Smith and father took to rowing races with old Stephanos
you'd put it all down to the Emperor."

"I would," said Gorman.

"Anyhow, I'm going to dress now. Come along, Kalliope."

Madame Ypsilante, very much to Gorman's relief, did not appear at
dinner. She went straight to bed, intending, so the King said, to stay
there for twenty-four hours at least.

Later in the evening, after the Queen had left them, Konrad Karl,
Donovan and Gorman sat together smoking. For a while no one spoke. At
last Konrad Karl, who had no gift of silence, began:

"My poor Corinne! She was desolate. I told you, Gorman, that she would
be desolate, but you would not believe. Yet it was so. Steinwitz said,
'No. You cannot go with the King.' But she was more than too much, she
was the equal of Steinwitz. She told him all she thought of him. It
was much."

"I don't like Steinwitz," said Gorman, "but what I know of Madame's
conduct in moments of strong emotion I'm inclined to pity the man."

"Then," said the King, "she was like a bee, making lines for Salissa."

"She did pretty well," said Gorman, "considering that she could only
get a fishing boat for the last part of the journey. I wonder she got
here so soon. But look here, you know--it seems a beastly thing to
say, but----"

Here Donovan roused himself.

"I'm not a narrow-minded man," he said, "and I hope I'm not the victim
of prejudice; but I'm afraid----"

King Konrad Karl waved his hand. Then he stood up, swallowed half a
glass of brandy and laid down his cigar.

"I am Konrad Karl of Megalia," he said. "I am a black sheep, very
black. I am a blackguard. You say it, Donovan. You say it, Gorman, my
friend."

"I didn't," said Gorman.

"Cut that part," said Donovan. "Nobody wants to start in abusing you."

"I am," said the King with an air of simple pride, "I am a blackguard,
the blackes