“You take me at a disadvantage,” he said, with dignity.
“Ah no, sire--you have all the advantages!”
Karl suddenly smiled also; it changed his face, not agreeably.
“That rests with you, Baroness,” he replied; now that he was sober it was noticeable that his demeanor was cold and his manners of a freezing haughtiness; only towards this woman his behavior was softened; he was being as gracious as he knew how; his large serene eyes gleamed as they rested on her loveliness; he approved her openly and with a lack of all subterfuge that had something large-natured in it; indeed, it was impossible to associate him with anything small of any kind.
They stood facing each other, and for all that she was tall she was hardly to his shoulder; he stared at her, and behind all his arrogance was a certain shyness.
“Sir,” she said, “it is a pity that you should depend on a woman for anything.”
That seemed to strike a responsive chord in his nature; he drew up his magnificent figure and a look of intense pride darkened his face.
He put his hand to the hilt of the short sword he wore and turned away rather abruptly.
“What could I give you?” asked Viktoria softly.
“I think you know,” he said rather sullenly.
“You are such a pretty creature,” he answered, “you give me more pleasure than any fair sight I have ever seen.”
She did not receive his compliment in the usual fashion of blush and confusion.
“I am sorry that your Majesty has seen so few pleasant sights,” she said quietly, “but you are very young.”
“You think of me as very young?” demanded the King, with narrowed eyes.
“What are you, sire, but a boy?” replied the lady calmly. “Ah, when will you be a man?”
“With God’s help, when I choose,” he said shortly.
“Sire,” she said, “I do not come to lecture you as Count Piper or the Queen do. I think I have no right to speak at all, save this little right that you have noticed me.”
“I have noticed you,” he interrupted heavily.
“And that others think that I might influence you,” she continued.
“Ah, they think that, do they? Count Piper thinks a woman could influence me!” cried the King. “Forgive me,” he added quickly, “I am not courteous.”
“Indeed,” replied the Baroness, still with that little fixed smile, “your Majesty is more fitted to the camp than the court.”