"But the fox is not Premier yet. Do you
think he ever will be?"
Von Glauben shrugged his shoulders.
"He is bound to be, I presume. What else remains to do? Upset
everything? Government, deputies and all?"
"Just that!" responded Sir Roger. "The People will do it, if the King
does not."
"The King will do anything he is asked to do--now--" said the Professor
significantly; "If the right person asks him!"
"You forget--she does not know--" Here checking himself abruptly, Sir
Roger walked to the window and looked out. It was a fair and peaceful
afternoon,--the ocean heaved placidly, covered with innumerable
wavelets, over which the seabirds flew and darted, their wings shining
like silver and diamonds as they dipped and circled up and down and
round the edges of the rocky coast. Far off, a faint rim of amethyst
under a slowly sailing white cloud could be recognized as the first
line of the shore of The Islands.
"Do you ever go and see the beautiful 'Gloria' girl now?" asked Sir
Roger suddenly. "The King has never mentioned her since the day we saw
her. And you have never explained the mystery of your acquaintance with
her,--nor whether it is true that Prince Humphry was specially
attracted by her. I shrewdly suspect----"
"What?"
"That he has been sent off, out of harm's way!"
"You are right," said the Professor gravely; "That is exactly the
position! He has been sent off out of harm's way!"
"I heard," went on De Launay, "that the girl--or some girl of
remarkable beauty had been seen here--actually here in the Palace--
before the Prince left! And such an odd way he left, too--scuttling off
in his own yacht without--so far as I have ever heard--any farewells,
or preparation, or suitable companions to go with him.
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