Book: Cleek: the Man of the Forty Faces

T >> Thomas W. Hanshew >> Cleek: the Man of the Forty Faces




"Monsieur! Dear Heaven--_Majesty!_"

Then came a rustling sound, and when Cleek had mastered himself and
looked down, a figure with head uncovered knelt on one knee at his feet.

"Get up, Count," he said, with a little shaky laugh. "I appreciate the
honour, but--your fancy is playing you a trick. I tell you I never set
foot in Mauravania before, my friend."

"I know--I know. How should you. Majesty, when it was as a child at
Queen Karma's breast Mauravania last saw--Don't leave like this!
Majesty! Majesty! 'God guard the right'--the pearl and the kingdom are
here."

"Wrong, my good friend. The kingdom is there--where you found me--in
England; and so, too, is the pearl. For there is no kingdom like the
kingdom of love, no pearl like a good woman. Good night, Count, and
many thanks for your hospitality. You are a little upset to-night, but
no doubt you will be all right again in the morning. I will walk to the
station and--alone, if it is all the same to you."

"Majesty!"

"Dreams, Count, dreams. The riddle is solved, my friend. Good luck to
your country and--good-bye!"

And, setting his back to the palace and the lights and the fluttering
flag, and his face to the land that held her, turned and went his
way--to the West--to England--and to those things which are higher than
crowns and better than sceptres and more precious than thrones and
ermine.

THE END

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