"If, for instance, I came to you to-day and said I wanted to marry one of my own nation--say even a commoner--in preference to the daughter of some foreign princeling, let me do it! It breaks with a foolish tradition--largely our own importation when, as foreigners, we were seeking to keep up our prestige--it may annoy or even embarrass the Government. Well! have they not annoyed and embarrassed you?"
The King nodded sympathetically, but in words hastened to correct himself. "One has often to make sacrifices in defense of an institution," he said. "That is a duty we both owe."
"Why," inquired the Prince, "should I make sacrifices to an institution I do not really approve? Why should I pretend to love some foreign princess if I have given my heart to one--I cannot say of my own race--for I remember that we are an importation--but of the country of my adoption? Do you really suppose that because it annoys the Prime Minister and disturbs his political calculations, an alliance within those artificially prohibited degrees imposed on royalty will lessen the influence of the Crown by a straw's weight, or quicken its demise by an hour? This country, like all civilized countries, is moving towards some form of republican government. If we are sufficiently human, if we show ourselves determined to call our souls our own--it is not merely possible, it is probable, that when the change comes we shall be called on by popular acclaim to provide the country with its first President. If we did we could secure for that presidency a greater power and prestige than any bureaucratic government would willingly concede. It may be that the real counter-stroke to the present increase of Cabinet control can most effectively be administered by a monarch who is not too careful to preserve the outward forms of monarchy. When that is done, by you, or by me, or by one who comes after us, I am confident that there will be the sound of a people's rejoicing."
"You have strange ideas," said the King, "for one who calls himself a monarchist."
The King stared at him as though at some strange animal. "You don't say so!" he murmured half aghast. "Supposing the Prime Minister were to find out."
"He will soon," said the Prince. "I shall be sending him a copy of my book on the day of publication."