f; "it is different, and I love the lady and I mean to
ask her to do me the honor to marry me. I didn't expect you to
understand, I don't care if you do. I only wanted to warn you."

"Warn me?" interrupted the King, with an unpleasant smile. "Indeed!
against what? Your tone is a trifle peremptory--but you are
interesting, most interesting! Kalonay in a new role, Kalonay in love!
Most interesting! Warn me against what?" he repeated sharply.

"Your Majesty has a certain manner," the Prince began, with a pretence
of hesitation, "a charm of manner, I might say, which is proverbial.
It is, we know, attractive to women. Every woman acknowledges it. But
your Majesty is sometimes too gracious. He permits himself to
condescend to many women, to any woman, to women of all classes----"

"That will do," said the King; "what do you mean?"

"What I mean is this," said Kalonay, lowering his voice and looking
into the King's half-closed eyes. "You can have all of Miss Carson's
money you want--all you can get. I don't want it. If I am to--marry
her at all, I am not marrying her for her money. You can't believe
that. It isn't essential that you should. But I want you to leave the
woman I hope to make my wife alone. I will allow no pretty speeches,
nor royal attentions. She can give her money where she pleases, now
and always; but I'll not have her eyes opened to--as you can open them.
I will not have her annoyed. And if she is----"

"Ah, and if she is?" challenged the King. His eyes were wide apart now
and his lips were parted and drawn back from his teeth, like a snarling
cat----

"I shall hold whoever annoys her responsible," Kalonay concluded,
impersonally.

There was a moment's pause, during which the two men stood regarding
each other warily.

Then the King stiffened his shoulders and placed his hands slowly
behind his back. "That sounds, my dear Kalonay," he said, "almost like
a threat."

The younger man laughed insolently. "I meant it, too, your Majesty,"
he answered, bowing mockingly and backing away.

As the King's guests seated themselves at his breakfast-table Louis
smiled upon them with a gracious glance of welcome and approval. His
manner was charmingly condescending, and in his appearance there was
nothing more serious than an anxiety for their better entertainment and
a certain animal satisfaction in the food upon his plate.

In reality his eyes were distributing the people at the table b