DOI Artikel:
Harland, Henry: The Queen's pleasure
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27806#0069
By Henry Harland 65
She awaited these gentlemen in the throne-room, surrounded by
the officers of the household in full uniform. Florimond and I
hovered uneasily in the background.
“ By Jove, she does look her part, doesn’t she ? ” Florimond
whispered to me.
She wore a robe of black silk, with the yellow ribbon of the
Lion of Monterosso across her breast, and a tiara of diamonds in
her hair. Her eyes glowed with a fire of determination, and her
cheeks with a colour that those who knew her recognised for a
danger-signal. She stood on the steps of the throne, waiting, and
tapping nervously with her foot.
And then the great white-and-gold folding doors were thrown
open, and M. Tsargradev entered, followed by the aide-de-camp
who had gone to fetch him.
He entered, bowing and smiling, grotesque in his ministerial
green and silver ; and the top of his bald head shone as if it had
been waxed and polished. Bowing and smirking, he advanced to
the foot of the throne, where he halted.
“ I have sent for you to demand the return of your seals ot
office,” said the Oueen. She held her head high, and spoke
slowly, with superb haughtiness.
Tsargradev bowed low, and, always smiling, answered, in a voice
of honey, “ If it please your Majesty, I don’t think I quite under-
stand.”
“ I have sent for you to demand the return of your seals of
office,” the Oueen repeated, her head higher, her inflection
haughtier than ever.
“ Does your Majesty mean that I am to consider myself dis-
missed from her service ? ” he asked, with undiminished sweetness.
“ It is my desire that you should deliver up your seals of office,”
said she.
T sargradev’s
She awaited these gentlemen in the throne-room, surrounded by
the officers of the household in full uniform. Florimond and I
hovered uneasily in the background.
“ By Jove, she does look her part, doesn’t she ? ” Florimond
whispered to me.
She wore a robe of black silk, with the yellow ribbon of the
Lion of Monterosso across her breast, and a tiara of diamonds in
her hair. Her eyes glowed with a fire of determination, and her
cheeks with a colour that those who knew her recognised for a
danger-signal. She stood on the steps of the throne, waiting, and
tapping nervously with her foot.
And then the great white-and-gold folding doors were thrown
open, and M. Tsargradev entered, followed by the aide-de-camp
who had gone to fetch him.
He entered, bowing and smiling, grotesque in his ministerial
green and silver ; and the top of his bald head shone as if it had
been waxed and polished. Bowing and smirking, he advanced to
the foot of the throne, where he halted.
“ I have sent for you to demand the return of your seals ot
office,” said the Oueen. She held her head high, and spoke
slowly, with superb haughtiness.
Tsargradev bowed low, and, always smiling, answered, in a voice
of honey, “ If it please your Majesty, I don’t think I quite under-
stand.”
“ I have sent for you to demand the return of your seals of
office,” the Oueen repeated, her head higher, her inflection
haughtier than ever.
“ Does your Majesty mean that I am to consider myself dis-
missed from her service ? ” he asked, with undiminished sweetness.
“ It is my desire that you should deliver up your seals of office,”
said she.
T sargradev’s