The Colonel of the Red Huzzars | Page 5

of the family, as in my case.
For the rest, we buried our royal descent. And though it was, naturally,
well known to my great-grandsire's friends and neighbors, yet, in the
succeeding generations, it has been forgotten and never had I heard it
referred to by a stranger.
Therefore, I was surprised and a trifle annoyed at Courtney's discovery.
Of course, it was possible that he had been attracted only by my

physical resemblance to the Third Henry and was not aware of the
relationship; but this was absurdly unlikely, Courtney was not one to
stop at half a truth and Dalberg was no common name. Doubtless the
picture had first put him on the track and after that the rest was easy.
What he did not know, however, but had been manoeuvring to discover,
was how far I was known at the Court of Valeria. Well, he was
welcome to what he had got.
Now, as a matter of fact, it was quite likely that the Dalbergs of
Dornlitz had totally forgotten the Dalbergs of America. Since
Frederick's minister had rumbled away from that mansion on the
Chesapeake, a century and more ago, there had been no word passed
between us. Why should there be? We had been disinherited and
banished. They had had their offer of reinstatement courteously refused.
We were quits.
I think I was the first of the family to set foot within Valeria since
Hugo left it. Ten years ago, during a summer's idling in Europe, I had
been seized with the desire to see the land of my people. It was a
breaking of our most solemn canon, yet I broke it none the less. Nor
was that the only time. However, I had the grace,--and, possibly, the
precaution,--to change my name on such occasions. In the Kingdom of
Valeria I was that well-known American, Mr. John Smith.
I did the ordinary tourist; visited the places of interest, and put up at the
regular hotels. Occasionally, I was stared at rather impertinently by
some officer of the Guards and I knew he had noted my resemblance to
the national hero. I never made any effort to be presented to His
Majesty nor to establish my relationship. I should have been much
annoyed had anything led to it being discovered.
Once, in the park of the palace, I had passed the King walking with a
single aide-de-camp, and his surprise was such he clean forgot to return
my salute; and a glance back showed him at a stand and gazing after
me. I knew he was thinking of the portrait in the Corridor of Kings.
That was the last time I had seen my royal cousin.
The next day, while riding along a secluded bridle path some miles

from Dornlitz, I came upon a woman leading a badly-limping horse.
She was alone,--no groom in sight,--and drawing rein I dismounted and
asked if I could be of service. Then I saw her face, and stepped back in
surprise. Her pictures were too plentiful in the capital for me to make
mistake. It was the Princess Dehra.
I bowed low. "Your Royal Highness's pardon," I said. "I did not mean
to presume."
She measured me in a glance. "Indeed, you are most opportune," she
said, with a frank smile. "I have lost the groom,--his horse was too
slow,--and I've been punished by Lotta picking a stone I cannot
remove."
CONCERNING ANCESTORS 25
"By your leave," I said, and lifted the mare's hoof. Pressing back the
frog I drew out the lump of sharp gravel.
"It looks so easy," she said.
"It was paining her exceedingly, but she is all right now."
"Then I may mount?"
I bowed.
"Without hurting Lotta?" she asked.
I turned the mare about and dropped my hand into position. For a
moment she hesitated. Then there was the swish of a riding skirt, the
glint of a patent-leather boot, an arched foot in my palm, and without
an ounce of lift from me she was in the saddle.
I stepped back and raised my hat.
She gathered the reins slowly; then bent and patted the mare's neck.
I made no move.

"I am waiting," she said presently, with a quick glance my way.
"I do not see the groom," said I, looking back along the road.
She gave a little laugh. "You won't," she said. "He thinks I went
another way."
"Then Your Highness means----"
"You do not look so stupid," she remarked.
"Sometimes men's looks are deceiving."
"Then, sir, Her Highness means she is waiting for you to mount," she
said, very graciously.
"As her groom?" I asked.
"As anything you choose, so long as you ride beside me to the hill
above the Park."
I took saddle at the vault and we trotted away.