Page:Roy Norton--The unknown Mr Kent.djvu/275

 top, where he stood silhouetted against the sky, waved his arms, and in a stentorian voice that swept over all else began to sing the national anthem. Instantly other voices took it up, until to the beating of time by that lone figure aloft it became united, and overpowering, battering the walls, the trees, and the skies with stately blows. The lips of the Princess Eloise quivered and her eyes filled with tears of emotion. Kent felt his hands clenching as he caught the meaning, and knew that it was an ovation to the king; but even then he could not understand why the giving of the mines had so stirred the people. His door was jerked open unceremoniously, and the king ran in, followed by Paulo and Von Glutz, all appearing scarcely less excited and jubilant than those below.

At sight of his sister and Kent, the king waved his state sword above his head and saluted the hilt with his lips.

"Marken! Marken!" he shouted as gallantly as any of his mailed ancestors might have done when announcing victory after battle.

"What have you done?" demanded Kent, once more the cool man of affairs.

"I've gone you one better, my friend, and acted without any one's advice. I've not only done as you suggested, but I've taken a long step farther. I've told them that, without their asking it, and [271]