By constant machination and intrigue the king's
revenues have been so depleted that ordinary debts are
troublesome. The archbishop, to stave off the probable end,
brought about the alliance between the houses of Carnavia and
Osia. My business here is to arrange for a ten years' renewal of
the loan, and that is what the duchess wishes to prevent, mon
ami. What's to become of the king and his daughter if aught in
the way of mishap should befall me? I have not seen the king,
but I have seen her Royal Highness."
"What is she like?" Maurice asked, innocently. He saw no reason
why he should confide to the Englishman his own adventure.
"I'm not much of a judge," said Fitzgerald cautiously. "I have
lived most of my life in cantonments where women were old and
ran mostly to tongue. I should say that she is beautiful." A
short sigh followed this admission.
"Ah!" said Maurice with a loud laugh to cover the sudden pang of
jealousy which seized him; "in gratitude for saving her father's
throne the daughter will fall in love with you. It is what the
dramatist calls logical sequence."
"Why don't you write novels? Your imagination has no bounds.
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