"Why, I never did think," Allard acknowledged merrily. "But certainly he would have been much wiser, madame."
He regarded her in bright question which drew the answer of her flush.
"Do not modern King Arthurs ever choose the wiser course?" she faltered.
"Perhaps they are too busy and hampered, madame, as the ancient king may have been also. Since I have lived at a court I have altered my ideas on such subjects. I never saw any one who worked so hard as the Regent. He has set himself a splendid task, and splendidly he carries it on."
Iría's expression clouded slightly; the glance she stole at her companion was puzzled and full of dawning terror.
"Yet he might leave it a little while, monsieur."
"Madame, to leave it for one day might topple down the careful building of months. Moreover, he holds the city always under his grasp, fearing danger to the Emperor."
"Monsieur, we arrive to-morrow; it would not be kind to play with me."
Allard met her pleading eyes with candid amazement.
"Princess, what have I said? _I_ venture to play with your Royal Highness!"
"Then the Grand Duke is waiting over there?" she flung out her hand toward the north, lifting her small white face to him, the golden-brown curls tossing in the breeze.
Even then he had no conception of her mistake.
"Surely, madame; where else?" he wondered.
The Gentle Princess made no exclamation, no reproach. Only her head drooped again, and shivering she drew the veil about her face.
"I am tired, monsieur," she gasped. "Will you take me back?"
"Madame, most unintentionally I have offended you. Let me beg forgiveness and ask how."
"No, no; no one has done wrong. I myself was--absurd. I am not angry, monsieur; only tired."
They walked back, Allard completely bewildered and uncomprehending. By her chair Iría paused and gave him her hand with a smile whose sweetness was beyond tears.
"Thank you, Monsieur Allard," she said. "Perhaps we shall still be friends over there. You are going home, but I go a stranger to a strange place; I meant no more than that."
She was like Theodora, Allard thought, deeply moved. Surely Stanief would be gentle with her gentleness.
It was a pity that, amidst all the gorgeous ceremony and confusion of welcome, Iría did not see the warm affection of Stanief's greeting to Allard. Perhaps she would have been less hopelessly afraid when the little Emperor took her hand and presented to her the tall, superb noble whose dark face, finely emotionless, resembled a cameo. Whose velvet eyes she dared not seek behind their curtaining lashes.