"Miss Calhoun," he said, his manner changing swiftly, "I have felt from
the first that you are not the princess of Graustark. I _knew_ it
an hour after I entered Edelweiss. Franz gave me a note at Ganlook, but
I did not read it until I was a member of the guard."
"You have known it so long?" she cried joyously. "And you have trusted
me? You have not hated me for deceiving you?"
"I have never ceased to regard you as _my_ sovereign," he said
softly.
"But just a moment ago you spoke of me as a frisky American girl," she
said resentfully.
"I have used that term but once, while I have said 'your highness' a
thousand times. Knowing that you were Miss Calhoun, I could not have
meant either."
"I fancy I have no right to criticise you," she humbly admitted. "After
all, it does not surprise me that you were not deceived. Only an
imbecile could have been fooled all these weeks. Everyone said that you
were no fool. It seems ridiculous that it should have gone to this
length, doesn't it?"
"Not at all, your highness. I am not--"
"You have the habit, I see," she smiled.
"I have several months yet to serve as a member of the guard. Besides, I
am under orders to regard you as the princess. General Marlanx has given
me severe instructions in that respect."
"You are willing to play the game to the end?" she demanded, more
gratified than she should have been.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209