This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
By George Meredith
My father and I stood at different windows, observing the unconcernedpeople below.
'Did you scheme to bring Prince Hermann over here as well?' I asked him.
He replied laughing: 'I really am not the wonderful wizard you think me,Richie. I left Prince Ernest's address as mine with Waddy in case theFrau Feld-Marschall should take it into her head to come. Further thanthat you must question Providence, which I humbly thank for its unfailingsupport, down to unexpected trifles. Only this—to you and to all ofthem: nothing bends me. I will not be robbed of the fruit of alifetime.'
'Supposing I refuse?'
'You refuse, Richie, to restore the princess her character and the princehis serenity of mind at their urgent supplication? I am utterly unableto suppose it. You are married in the papers this morning. I grieve tosay that the position of Prince Hermann is supremely ridiculous. I ambound to add he is a bold boy. It requires courage in one of thepretenders to the hand of the princess to undertake the office ofintercessor, for he must know—the man must know in his heart that he isdoing her no kindness. He does not appeal to me, you see. I have shownthat my arrangements are unalterable. What he will make of your grandad!. . . Why on earth he should have been sent to—of all men in theworld—your grandad, Richie!'
I was invited to sympathetic smiles of shrewd amusement.
He caught sight of friends, and threw up the window, saluting them.
The squire returned with my aunt Dorothy and Janet to behold the detestedman communicating with the outer world from his own rooms. He shoutedunceremoniously, 'Shut that window!' and it was easy to see that he hadcome back heavily armed for the offensive. 'Here, Mr. Richmond, I don'twant all men to know you're in my apartments.'
'I forgot, sir, temporarily,' said my father, 'I had vacated the roomsfor your convenience—be assured.'
An explanation on the subject of the rooms ensued between the old man andthe ladies;—it did not improve his temper.
His sense of breeding, nevertheless, forced him to remark, 'I can't thankyou, sir, for putting me under an obligation I should never have incurredmyself.'
'Oh, I was happy to be of use to the ladies, Mr. Beltham, and require nosmall coin of exchange,' my father responded with the flourish of apacifying hand. 'I have just heard from a posse of friends that themarriage is signalled in this morning's papers—numberlesscongratulations, I need not observe.'
'No, don't,' said the squire. 'Nobody'll understand them here, and Ineedn't ask you to sit down, because I don't want you to stop. I'll soonhave done now; the game's played. Here, Harry, quick; has all that moneybeen spent—no offence to you, but as a matter of business?'
'Not all, sir,' I was able to say.
'Half?'
'Yes, I think so.'
'Three parts?'
'It may be.'
...