tempted a
_coup d'etat_ of that kind the Emperor would at once put in my wheel a
spoke. It is a cursed pity; but what can we do? We must, as you once
said to me, Gorman, be content to leave it at that."

Madame Ypsilante was present when Gorman first suggested the sale of
Megalia. She cut into the conversation with a very pertinent remark.

"The price," she said, "would be enormous."

Madame is a lady of expensive tastes and appreciates the advantage of
possessing money. There was at that time in Goldsturmer's Bond Street
establishment a rope of pearls which she very much wished to possess.
Miss Daisy Donovan had seen it and admired it greatly. This fact
rendered Madame's desire almost overwhelming.

"The price of a kingdom," she said. "Consider."

Her fine eyes opened very wide as she considered the price which
Donovan might be induced to pay for Megalia. The King sighed deeply.

"Alas!" he said. "The Emperor."

"Damn the Emperor," said Madame.

She had every reason to wish evil to the Emperor. His malignant
respect for conventional morality had driven her from the precincts of
his court, had been the prime cause of the misfortunes which had
nearly overwhelmed her and Konrad, and now the Emperor stood between
her and the possession of the most magnificent pearls in Europe. It
was no wonder that she cursed him. Konrad Karl did not rebuke her
disloyalty. He merely shrugged his shoulders, feeling that it was no
use damning the Emperor. That potentate would not moult a feather
though Madame Ypsilante cursed him all day long. Madame herself felt
the uselessness of losing her temper with some one she could not hurt.
She asked the King to give her a glass of brandy. That stimulated her
imagination.

"This American," she said, "is no doubt a fool, and his daughter
imbecile. Do not contradict me. All young girls are imbecile. As for
the father, if he were not a fool would he wish to buy Megalia?
Megalia, my God! The world is full of things desirable to buy; and he
asks for that."

The King nodded. He knew Megalia. The man who wanted to buy it was
certainly a fool. Gorman was forced to admit that Donovan showed less
wisdom than might be expected in wishing to spend money on a kingdom
of that kind.

"Then," said Madame, "the affair is simple. He buys. You sell. He
pays. You take. We skip. I love London--yes, very well. But after all
there are other cities. We skip. The Emperor acts. The American
curses. What is tha