Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy Part 17

"Not for a month, at least."

"Much may happen in that month," said the Professor sententiously; "_Your_ hair may grow white with the strangeness of your experiences!"

Sir Roger met his eyes, and they both laughed.

"Though it is no laughing matter," resumed Von Glauben. "Upon my soul as a German,--if I have any soul of that nationality,--I think it may be a serious business!"

"You have come round to my opinion then," said De Launay. "I told you from the first that it was serious!"

"The King does not think it so," rejoined Von Glauben. "I was summoned to his presence early this morning, and found him in the fullest health and highest spirits."

"Why did he send for you then?" enquired De Launay.

"To feel his pulse and look at his tongue! To make a little game of me before he stepped out of his dressing-gown! And I enjoyed it, of course,--one must always enjoy Royal pleasantries! I think, Roger, his Majesty wishes this entire affair treated as a pleasantry,--by us at any rate, however seriously he may regard it himself."

De Launay was silent for a minute or two, then he said abruptly:

"The Premier is summoned to a private audience of the King at noon."

"Ah!" And Von Glauben drew a cl.u.s.ter of the overhanging philadelphus flowers down to his nose and smelt them approvingly.

"And"--went on De Launay, speaking more deliberately, "this afternoon their Majesties sail to The Islands----"

Von Glauben jumped excitedly to his feet.

"Not possible!"

Sir Roger looked at him with a dawning amus.e.m.e.nt beginning to twinkle in his clear blue eyes.

"Quite possible! So possible, that the Royal yacht is ordered to be in readiness at three o'clock. Their Majesties and suite will dine on board, in order to enjoy the return sail by moonlight."

The Professor's countenance was a study. Anxiety and vexation struggled with the shrewd kindness and humour of his natural expression, and his suppressed feelings found vent in a smothered exclamation, which sounded very much like the worst of blasphemous oaths used in dire extremity by the soldiers of the Fatherland.

"What ails you?" demanded De Launay; "You seem strangely upset for a man of cool nerve!"

"Upset? Who--what can upset me? Nothing! Roger, if I did not respect you so much, I should call you an a.s.s!"

Sir Roger laughed.

"Call me an a.s.s, by all means," he said, "if it will relieve your feelings;--but in justice to me, let me know why you do so! What is my offence? I give you a piece of commonplace information concerning the movements of the Court this afternoon, and you jump off your seat as if an adder had bitten you. Why?"

"I have the gout," said Von Glauben curtly.

"Oh!" And again Sir Roger laughed. "That last must have been a sharp twinge!"

"It was--it was! Believe me, my excellent Roger, it was exceedingly severe!" His brow smoothed, and he smiled. "See here, my dear friend!--you know, do you not, that boys will be boys, and men will be men?"

"Both are recognised plat.i.tudes," replied Sir Roger, his eyes still twinkling merrily; "And both are frequently quoted to cover our various follies!"

"True, true! But I wish to weigh more particularly on the fact that men will be men! I am a man, Roger,--not a boy!"

"Really! Well, upon my word, I should at this moment take you for a raw lad of about eighteen,--for you are blus.h.i.+ng, Von Glauben!--actually blus.h.i.+ng!"

The Professor drew out a handkerchief, and wiped his brow.

"It is a warm morning, Roger," he said, with a mildly reproachful air; "I suppose I am permitted to feel the heat?" He paused--then with a sudden burst of impatience he exclaimed: "By the Emperor's head! It is of no use denying it--I am very much put out, Roger! I must get a boat, and slip off to The Islands at once!"

Sir Roger stared at him in complete amazement.

"You? You want to slip off to The Islands? Why, Von Glauben----!"

"Yes--yes,--I know! You cannot possibly imagine what I want to go there for! You wouldn't suppose, would you, that I had any special secrets--an old man like me;--for instance, you would not suspect me of any love secrets, eh?" And he made a ludicrous attempt to appear sentimental.

"The fact is, Roger,--I have got into a little sc.r.a.pe over at The Islands--" here he looked warmer and redder than ever;--"and I want to take precautions! You understand--I want to take care that the King does not hear of it--Gott in Himmel! What a block of a man you are to stand there staring open-mouthed at me! Were you never in love yourself?

"In love? In love!--you,--Professor? Pray pardon me--but--in love? Am I to understand that there is a lady in your case?"

"Yes!--that is it," said Von Glauben, with an air of profound relief; "There is a lady in my case;--or my case, speaking professionally, is that of a lady. And I shall get any sort of a sea-tub that is available, and go over to those accursed Islands without any delay!"

"If the King should send for you while you are absent--" began De Launay doubtfully.

"He will not send. But if he should, what of it? I am known to be somewhat eccentric--particularly so in my love of hard work, fresh air and exercise--besides, he has not commanded my attendance. He will not, therefore, be surprised at my absence. I tell you, Roger,--I _must_ go!

Who would have expected the King to take it into his head to visit The Islands without a moment's warning! What a freak!"

"And here comes the reason of the freak, if I am not very much mistaken," said De Launay, lowering his voice as an approaching figure flung its lengthy shadow on the path,--"Prince Humphry!"

Von Glauben hastily drew back, De Launay also, to allow the Prince to pa.s.s. He was walking slowly, and reading as he came. Looking up from his book he saw, them, and as they saluted him profoundly, bade them good-day.

"You are up betimes, Professor," he said lightly; "I suppose your scientific wisdom teaches you the advantage of the morning air."

"Truly, Sir, it is more healthful than that of the evening," answered Von Glauben in somewhat doleful accents.--"For example, a sail across the sea with the morning breeze, is better than the same sort of excursion in the glamour of the moon!"

Prince Humphry looked steadfastly at him, and evidently read something of a warning, or a suggestion, in his face, for he coloured slightly and bit his lip.

"Do you agree with that theory, Sir Roger," he said, turning to De Launay.

"I have not tested it, Sir," replied the equerry, "But I imagine that whatever Professor von Glauben a.s.serts must be true!"

The young man glanced quickly from one to the other, and then with a careless air turned over the pages of the book he held.

"In the earlier ages of the world," he said,--"men and women, I think, must have been happier than they are now, if this book may be believed.

I find here written down--What is it, Professor? You have something to say?"

"Pardon me, Sir," said Von Glauben,--"But you said--'If this book may be believed.' I humbly venture to declare that no book may be believed!"

"Not even your own, when it is written?" queried the Prince with a smile; "You would not like the world to say so! Nay, but listen, Professor,--here is a thought very beautifully expressed--and it was written in an ancient language of the East, thousands of years before we, in our quarter of the world, ever dreamt of civilization.--'Of all the sentiments, pa.s.sions or virtues which in their divers turns affect the life of a man, the influence and emotion of Love is surely the greatest and highest. We do not here speak of the base and villainous craving of bodily appet.i.te; but of that pure desire of the unfettered soul which beholding perfection, straightway and naturally flies to the same. This love doth so elevate and instruct a man, that he seeketh nothing better than to be worthy of it, to attempt great deeds and valiantly perform them, to confront foul abuses, and most potently destroy them,--and to esteem the powers and riches of this world as dross, weighed against this rare and fiery talisman. For it is a jewel which doth light up the heart, and make it strong to support all sorrow and ill fortune with cheerfulness, knowing that it is in itself of so lasting a quality as to subjugate all things and events unto its compelling sway.' What think you of this? Sir Roger, there is a whole volume of comprehension in your face! Give some word of it utterance!"

Sir Roger looked up.

"There is nothing to say, Sir," he replied; "Your ancient writer merely expresses a truth we are all conscious of. All poets, worthy the name, and all authors, save and except the coldest logicians, deem the world well lost for love."