The Puppet Crown | Page 8

given much to know? Some one in far away India, after
putting him into the ship steward's care, had whispered: "You tell the
governor that I think just as much of him as ever." He had made a
desperate effort to tell it the moment he was liberated from the box, but
he had not yet mastered that particular language which characterized
his master's race.
"To begin with," said the diplomat, "what would your Majesty say if I
should ask permission to purchase the entire loan?"
CHAPTER II
THE COUP D'ETAT OF COUSIN JOSEF
The king, who had been leaning forward, fell back heavily in his seat,
his eyes full wide and his mouth agape. Then, to express his utter
bewilderment, he raised his hands above his head and limply dropped
them.
"Five millions of crowns?" he gasped.
"Yes; what would your Majesty say to such a proposition?"
complacently.
"I should say," answered the king, with a nervous laugh, "that my
friend had lost his senses, completely and totally."
"The fact is," the Englishman declared, "they were never keener nor
more lucid than at this present moment."
"But five millions!"
"Five millions; a bagatelle," smiling.
"Certainly you can not be serious, and if you were, it is out of the
question. Death of my life! The kingdom would be at my ears. The

people would shout that I was selling out to the English, that I was
putting them into the mill to grind for English sacks."
"Your Majesty will recollect that the measure authorizing this loan was
rather a peculiar one. Five millions were to be borrowed
indiscriminately, of any man or body of men willing to advance the
money on the securities offered. First come, first served, was not
written, but it was implied. It was this which roused my curiosity, or
cupidity, if you will."
"I can not recollect that the bill was as you say," said the king,
frowning.
"I believe you. When the bill came to you, you were not expected to
recollect anything but the royal signature. Have you read half of what
you have signed and made law? No. I am serious. What is it to you or
to the people, who secures this public mortgage, so long as the money
is forthcoming? I desire to purchase at face value the twenty
certificates."
"As a representative of England?"
The diplomat smiled. The king's political ignorance was well known.
"As a representative of England, Sire, I could not purchase the stubs
from which these certificates are cut. And then, as I remarked, I am an
unfettered agent of self. The interest at two per cent. will be a fine
income on a lump of stagnant money. Even in my own country, where
millionaires are so numerous as to be termed common, I am considered
a rich man. My personal property, aside from my estates, is five times
the amount of the loan. A mere bagatelle, if I may use that pleasantry."
"Impossible, impossible!" cried the king, starting to his feet, while a
line of worry ran across his forehead. He strode about impatiently
slapping his boots with the riding stick. "It is impossible."
"Why do you say impossible, Sire?"
"I can not permit you to put in jeopardy a quarter of a million pounds,"

forgetting for the moment that he was powerless.
"Aha!" the diplomat cried briskly. "There is, then, beneath your
weariness and philosophy, a fear?"
"A fear?" With an effort the king smoothed the line from his forehead.
"Why should there be fear?"
"Why indeed, when our cousin Josef--" He stopped and looked toward
the mountains.
"Well?" abruptly.
"I was thinking what a fine coup de maitre it would be for his Highness
to gather in all these pretty slips of parchment given under the hand of
Leopold."
"Small matter if he should. I should pay him." The king sat down. "And
it is news to me that Josef can get together five millions."
"He has friends, rich and powerful friends."
"No matter, I should pay him."
"Are you quite sure?"
"What do you mean?"
"The face of the world changes in the course of ten years. Will there be
five millions in your treasury ten years hence?"
"The wealth of my kingdom is not to be questioned," proudly, "nor its
resources."
"But in ten years, with the ministers you have?" The Englishman
shrugged doubtfully. "Why have you not formed a new cabinet of
younger men? Why have you retained those of your predecessor, who
are your natural enemies? You have tried and failed."

The expression of weariness returned to the king's face. He knew that
all this was but a preamble to something of deeper significance. He
anticipated what was forming in the other's mind, but he wished to
avoid a verbal declaration. O,