"Ah," said the King. "Poor Corinne! She will be desolate."
"Well," said Gorman, "you'd better come along now and see Donovan. He ought to be down here to receive you, of course. But these Americans--I'm sure you'll understand--they're not accustomed to kings."
"Say no more," said the King, "not a word. I go to pay my respects. I bow. I abase myself. I am a king. It is true. But I have no money, only a little, a very little left. He is not a king, but he has money. Gorman, I am not a Bourbon. I am able to learn and forget. He who can write a cheque is a greater man than he who can confer the Order of the Pink Vulture of Megalia. I have learned that. Also I can forget, forget that I am a king."
We must do Konrad Karl justice. No king was ever more willing to forget his rank than he was. The real trouble with him was that he seldom remembered it.
"Come along then," said Gorman, "but don't get talking business to Donovan."
"Business! Why do you so often misunderstand me, you who ought to know me well? First you think that I desire to marry that girl--as if it were possible that I should. Then you fear that I will talk business. Am I one that talks business ever, to any one, if I can help it?"
"I mean," said Gorman, "don't say anything about buying the island or marrying the girl. Donovan's heart is dicky, or he thinks it is, which comes to the same thing--and any sort of worry upsets him."
"I see it," said the King. "I understand. Trust me. Mumm will be the word. Mumm extra sec. Mumm at 190 shillings a dozen. You can trust me."
King Konrad Karl made himself most agreeable to Donovan. He did not once mention the sale of the island or hint at a marriage with the Queen. He talked about the scenery. He discussed the character, manners and customs of the inhabitants. He inquired whether Donovan were satisfied with the palace, admitted frankly that the accommodation was not all that could be desired. In just such a way an English gentleman might converse with a satisfactory tenant to whom he had let his country house for the hunting season. Donovan repeated the invitation which Gorman had given in his name, and pressed the King to treat the palace as his own during his stay in Salissa. The King accepted the invitation with profuse thanks. Donovan rang a bell which lay on the table beside him.