Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/58

5 that I loved you almost before I saw you. I am plain and straightforward, prompt and decided; it is my nature; I hate dissimulation, and what you might call beating about the bush; fair and honourable dealing for me all the world over; and now I have told you all, and you are mine for ever, and I am yours.'

'Madam,' I replied, as soon as I had recovered from my astonishment and confusion, 'you are a stranger to me as I am to you. Is this possible? Have I heard you aright? To speak thus to a strange man in the world I come from would cover you with the greatest disgrace, unless, indeed, you were a reigning queen, and even then under circumstances far different from our present respective positions.'

'Disgraced!' she screamed; 'did you say disgraced? And for what? For speaking my mind plainly and truthfully; for being honest and good, and—and—you speak of your world! Yours is a world of lies, hypocrisy and deceit, and roguery, and bitterness, and malice, and wrath, and revenge, and everything vile—there!'

She rose from her seat as she spoke, and stamped her foot on the hard floor, while indignation and defiance flashed from her eyes.

'Think,' said I in a tone of humility and commiseration, 'of your reputation, of your maidenly modesty and self-respect. It is the business of the man to propose marriage first to the woman whom he wishes to have for his wife. Besides, madam, I beg to inform you with all due respect that I have a wife now living, and she is very much alive, too, I beg to assure you.'

The Princess laughed. 'And do you think,' she answered, 'that a mere childish trifle like your marriage above ground will me in my determination to make you my husband? I am older than I look; I am absolute here; no one dare disobey me. I am subject only to my honoured father. I