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You are gaining golden laurels, she said. You are like the prince in Shakespeare who was transformed by becoming king. But Im forgetting you are King, sire. I ask you to speak nothing but what your heart tells youand to call me nothing but my name. She looked at me for a moment. Then Im glad and proud, Rudolf, said she. Why, as I told you, your very face is changed. I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked the topic; so I said: My brother is back, I hear. He made an excursion, didnt he? Yes, he is here, she said, frowning a little. He cant stay long from Strelsau, it seems, I observed, smiling. Well, we are all glad to see him. The nearer he is, the better. The princess glanced at me with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. Why, cousin? Is it that you can? See better what hes doing? Perhaps, said I. And why are you glad? I didnt say I was glad, she answered. Some people say so for you. There are many insolent people, she said, with delightful haughtiness. Possibly you mean that I am one? Your Majesty could not be, she said, curtseying in feigned deference, but adding, mischievously, after a pause: Unless, that is Well, unless what? Unless you tell me that I mind a snap of my fingers where the Duke of Strelsau is. Really, I wished that I had been the King. You dont care where cousin Michael Ah, cousin Michael! I call him the Duke of Strelsau. You call him Michael when you meet him? Yesby the orders of your father. I see. And now by mine? If those are your orders. Oh, decidedly! We must all be pleasant to our dear Michael. You order me to receive his friends, too, I suppose? The Six? |
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