d beyond his years. Rather a little prig, I
think. He has an English governess, and she has made him quite a little
woman."

Karl laughed, but Hedwig flushed.

"He is not that sort at all," she declared stoutly. "He is lonely
and--and rather pathetic. The truth is that no one really cares for him,
except--"

"Except Captain Larisch!" said the Archduchess smoothly. "You and he,
Hedwig, have done your best by him, surely."

The bit of byplay was not lost on Karl--the sudden stiffening of
Hedwig's back, Olga's narrowed eyes. Olga had been right, then. Trust
her for knowing facts when they were disagreeable. His eyes became set
and watchful, hard, too, had any noticed. There were ways to deal with
such a situation, of course. They were giving him this girl to secure
their own safety, and she knew it. Had he not been so mad about her he
might have pitied her, but he felt no pity, only a deep and resentful
determination to get rid of Nikky, and then to warm her by his own fire.
He might have to break her first. After that manner had many Queens of
Karnia come to the throne. He smiled behind his small mustache.

When tea was almost over, the Crown Prince was announced. He came in,
rather nervously, with hie hands thrust in his trousers pockets. He was
very shiny with soap and water and his hair was still damp from parting.
In his tailless black jacket, his long gray trousers, and his round Eton
collar, he looked like a very anxious little schoolboy, and not royal at
all.

Greetings over, and having requested that his tea be half milk, with
four lumps of sugar, he carried his cup over beside Hedwig, and sat down
on a chair. Followed a short silence, with the Archduchess busy with the
tea-things, Olga Loschek watching Karl, and Karl intently surveying the
Crown Prince. Ferdinand William Otto, who disliked a silence, broke it
first.

"I've just taken off my winter flannels," he observed. "I feel very
smooth and nice underneath."

Hilda giggled, but Hedwig reached over and stroked his arm. "Of course
you do," she said gently.

"Nikky," continued Prince Ferdinand William Otto, stirring his tea,
"does not wear any flannels. Miss Braithwaite thinks he is very
careless."

King Karl's eyes gleamed with amusement. He saw the infuriated face of
the Archduchess, and bent toward the Crown Prince with earnestness.

"As a matter of fact," he said, "since you have mentioned the subject,
I do not wear any either. Your 'Nikky' an