The Colonel of the Red Huzzars Part 20

"Yes, I know; his power in the family is limitless, save that he may not change the succession to the Crown in favor of a female--more's the pity.

But, while Your Majesty may make me a Duke, or even a Prince, yet that will not give back to Hugo the rights he was deprived of by his arbitrary father."

The King smiled indulgently. "For an American you have a large fund of sentiment."

"That is the Dalberg in me, doubtless," I replied.

"Then, sir. I understand that--because your great-grandfather didn't live for one hundred and forty years and so be able now to receive, in the flesh, the edict of restoration--you, his eldest male heir, refuse to accept your rights; the rights that come to you through him?"

"No, that's not exactly it; it's this: For Your Majesty, now, to restore me to the Family Roll, can be done only upon the hypothesis that all of Hugo's descendants have been debruised by the bar sinister--the very act of restoration presupposes such disqualification."

"You forget I said you were legitimate," said the King.

"By your grace; not by old Henry's," I objected.

"But, recall that Hugo himself was offered his t.i.tles and rights by his brother and that he declined them."

"Yes; that is just the point," said I: "he declined them."

Frederick took a fresh cigar and lit it carefully, blowing the smoke in tiny rings to the ceiling.

"I think I understand now," he said. "You will decline our offer because it necessitates the restoration now, of Hugo's descendants, to the Family Roll?"

I bowed in silence.

"It's a great pity," he said, sadly. "Otherwise, if Hugo had, in effect, never been disinherited and if the legitimacy of his descendants had been specifically preserved by Royal Decree, you would accept our offer?"

"Yes," said I--"or, at least, I would give it serious consideration," I added with a laugh.

The King turned slowly and, for a s.p.a.ce, kept his eyes fixed steadily on my face, as though searching there for an answer to something about which his mind was undecided. Have you ever had a monarch or one high in authority look at you so? If you have, you are likely to remember it many days.

Then he arose abruptly and, crossing to a large vault built in a far corner, returned with a heavy black box curiously bound with bra.s.s and inlaid with silver. Placing it on the table between us, he took from his watch chain a small antique key and pus.h.i.+ng it, with a queer side-motion, into the lock, it opened with a sharp snap, and he threw back the lid.

"I wonder," said he, as he lifted out a thick leather-covered book with heavy metal hinges, "if there are many Americans whom it would be so difficult to persuade to accept a royal t.i.tle?"

"I fancy it would be much the same with all the truly representative old American families," said I.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Then, for the credit of America, it's a pity Europe does not know some of those same old families; if they are the Country's true n.o.bility."

"Yes, but not n.o.bility on European lines," said I. "They are the _worthy_ descendants of those who founded the Nation; and the proudest patent is a commission from King or Colony or from the Continental Congress in the Revolution."

The King smiled. "Isn't that every Nation's n.o.bility--the descendants of the officers who helped their chief to establish a kingdom?"

"It may be so," I answered; "but the systems are wide apart. You will observe, I said the _worthy_ descendants. In America it needs manhood as well as birthright--gentle living as well as gentle blood."

"While with us it needs only gentle blood, you mean?" said Frederick, good naturedly. "Well, we shall not argue over the matter; and, particularly, since the Dalbergs have no fault to find with their representative among the American n.o.bility; it's rather he who is ashamed of his Valerian relatives."

"I am quite satisfied with the two I've met," I protested.

"So well, indeed, with one of them that you kissed her instantly," the King laughed.

"And am glad, now, I did it. I shall never have another chance."

He shot a quick glance at me, as he opened the book and began to turn the heavy parchment pages, which I could see were illumined in beautiful colors and with strange, large lettering. Presently, these ended and the characters seemed to be in ancient script, which, gradually grew more modern. At one of these later pages, the King stopped and addressed me:

"You have said that, unless Hugo's rights and the Dalberg legitimacy of his descendants were preserved, by special Decree, made during Hugo's life, you would decline to return to Court." He paused a moment, then went on: "It would almost seem that old Henry had some presentiment of a certain stubborn-minded grandchild, for he provided for just such a condition as you have made. This book is the Laws of the House of Dalberg. Listen to what is written touching Hugo, son of Henry the Third."

Instinctively, I arose and stood at attention.

The King read:

"Section one-hundred twenty-first--For inasmuch as our second son, Hugo, hath, in defiance of our specific prohibition, this day left our Kingdom and gone over Sea to the North American Colonies of Great Britain, there to join the forces of one, George Was.h.i.+ngton, who is leading a revolt against his lawful sovereign, the King of England, with whom I am at peace; It is hereby decreed that the said Hugo shall forfeit all t.i.tles and emoluments heretofore conferred, and his name is hereby stricken from the Family Roll. From this day he ceaseth to be a Dalberg of Valeria.

"HENRY III, Rex.

"Ye 17th October, A.D., 1777."

Frederick glanced up. "That was the judgment," said he. "Listen, now, to the pardon:--

"Section one-hundred twenty-fifth--Whereas, we have learned that our second son, Hugo, hath served with much honour in the American Army under General Was.h.i.+ngton, and hath, since the termination of hostilities, married into a good family in one of the said American States, called Maryland, and hath a.s.sumed residence therein; and whereas he hath never sought aid from us nor sued for pardon; Now, therefore, in recognition of his valour and self-reliance and true Dalberg independence, it is decreed that Section one-hundred twenty-one, supra, be annulled; and Hugo's name is hereby reinstated on the Family Roll in its proper place, the same as though never stricken therefrom. And it is further decreed that the marriage of Hugo and the marriages of his descendants shall be deemed valid and lawful, the same as though their respective consorts were of the Blood Royal."

"Is that sufficiently definite, sir?" the King asked.

"It is very extraordinary," I said, in wonder.

"There is a bit more," he said, and resumed reading:

"The t.i.tles conferred upon Hugo shall, however, remain in abeyance until claimed anew by him or by his right heir male; nor shall the latter be eligible to the Crown unless hereinafter specifically decreed so to be--or, in event of a vacancy in the royal dignity without such decree having been so made, then, by special Act of the House of n.o.bles.

"HENRY III., Rex,

"Ye 7th September, A.D. 1785."

The King closed the book. "That," said he, "is the record," and motioned me to sit down.

I obeyed mechanically. Through my head was ringing those last few words that made possible the Crown of my ancestors. Under the Decree I was, de jure, the eldest male after the King; it needed only his act to make me his successor. A single line, sealed with his seal, in that big book just beside me, and plain Armand Dalberg, Major in the Army of the United States of America, would be Heir Presumptive to one of the great Kingdoms of Earth. And Dehra! I could get no further. Crown and Kingdom faded and I saw only a woman's face.----

Then the King coughed, and I came sharply back to life, and visions fled.

But, even then, realities seemed almost visions, still.

I turned to the King. "Will Your Majesty permit me a few days to consider the matter?" I asked.

"As many as you wish, my boy," he said kindly.