Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy

Majesties the King and Queen. Outsiders read the thrilling line with awe and envy,-and many of them are foolish enough to wish that they also

t gaiety-the dread of trespassing on tabooed subjects-these things tend to make all but the most independent and unfettered minds shrink from such an ordeal as the 'honour' of dining with kings. It must, however, be conceded that the kings themselves are fully aware of the tediousness of their dinner parties, and would lighten the boredom if they could; but etiquette forbids. The particular

ad been designed and painted from floor to ceiling by one of the most famous of the dead and gone masters, and its broad windows opened out on a white marble loggia fronting the ocean, where festoons of flowers clambered and hung, in natural tufts and trails of foliage and blossom, mingling their sweet odours with the fresh scent of the sea. Amid all the glow and delicacy of colour, the crowning perfection of the perfect environment was the Queen-Consort, lovelier in her middle-age than most women in their teens. An exquisite figure of stateliness and dignity, robed in such hues and adorned with such jewels as best suited her statuesque beauty, and attended by ladies of whose more youthful charms she was never envious, having indeed no cause for envy, she was a living defiance to the ravages of time, and graced her royal husband's dinner-table with the same indifferent ease as she graced his throne, unchanging in the dazzling light of her physical faultlessness. He, looking at her with ming

their position as sons of the reigning monarch, irksome, and even ridiculous. They had caught the infection of that diseased idea which in various exaggerated forms is tending to become more or less universal, and to work great mischief to nations,-namely, that 'sport' is more important than policy, and that all matters relating to 'sport,' are more worth attention than wisdom in government. Of patriotism, or love of country they had none; and laughed to scorn the grand old traditions and sentiments of national glory and honour, which had formerly inspired the poets of their land to many a wild an

igure in the circle of the land's Royalty,-he cared nothing at all for the amusements and dissipations of the time; he merely showed an abnormal love of solitude, which was highly unflattering to fashionable society. It was on this subject that the King had decided to speak with him,-and he watched him with closer attention than usual on this particular evening when his habit of absenting himself all day in his yacht had again excited comment. It was easy to see that the Prince had been annoyed by the message Sir Roger de Launay had conveyed to him on his arrival home,-a message to the effect that, as soon as dinner was concluded, he was required to attend his Majesty in private; and all through the st

a cigar from the silver box on the table. Then, lig

u smoke,

s, Sir

self; Prince Humphr

st, beginning to smoke placidly-"I observe that The Islands appear to have wo

nce was

e a change of air. But variation in both is always desirable,

d up and studied his face attentively, but coul

Come, sit down! Let us talk this out. Can

nswered the young m

an you

ave never

uth, and flicking off a morsel of a

iculous word, Humphry, but it has a meaning on certain occasio

blame for my mot

ou exist. And that you do exist is a fact of

who having studied his cigar sufficiently, replaced it between his lips and

life-your example in manners-concern, not me, so much as the nation. You say that you cannot trust me as a friend, because I have never loved you. Is not this a somewhat childish remark

father's face-"And yet, after all, love is such a vital necessity, that I have only t

m a glance of wh

s pointing out to you my deficiencies, while supplying your own? Do you learn to estimate the priceless value of love w

coloured,-then

it will then be needful to catechise me on the

ou are misusing your time, Humphry! And this is the cause of our present little discussion. If I knew

ng my age and rank?" asked the Prince with a touc

ing s

! Folly is not so harmful when spread like jam over a whole slice of bread,-but

ce moved

ngland wrote concerning the 'domestic regulations' on the conduct of a prince and future king? 'A king is set as one on a stage, whose smallest, actions and gestures all the people gazinglie do behold; and, however just in the discharge of his office, yet if his behaviour be light or dissolute, in indifferent actions, the people, who see but the outward part, conceive preoccupied conceits of the

as yet be called light or dissolute;" replie

It wants to be in the room, and know everything and everybody. And this reminds me of another point on which the good English James offers sound advice. 'Remember to be plaine and sensible in your language; for besides, it is the tongue's office to be the messenger of the mind, it may

of anyone;" said the Prince composedly-"I simpl

unconsciously assumed became him,-his handsome face was pale, and his dark eyes coldly br

explanation of your long hours of absence?-your constant visits to The Isla

of artificial folly. The Islands are but two hours sail from this port,-little tufts of land set in the sea, where the coral-fishers dwell. They are beautiful in their natural ador

ng was

n oftener in the capital, I will endeavour to fulfil your command, though the streets stifle me. But, for God's sake, do not

is cigar out among the foliage, where the burning morsel shone like a stray glowwo

upy. You will do well, I think, to remain more in evidence at Court. You will also do well to be seen at some of the different great social functions of the day. But I shall not coerce you. Only-consider well what I have said!

y with himself, he crossed the loggia and went out into the garden beyond. A young moon, slender as a bent willow wand, gleamed in the clear heavens among hosts of stars more brilliantly visible than itself, and the soft air, laden with the perfume of thousands of flowers, cooled his brain and calmed his nerves. The musical low murmur of the sea, lapping against the shore below the palace walls, suggested a whole train of pleasing and poetical fancie

d never betray me. Besides it is a mere question of a

wards the dark boughs above him, from whence the golden notes dropped liquidly; and his heart beat quickly as he thought of a voice sweeter than that of any heavenly-g

youth,-the glow, the breath, the tenderness of love!-all for amassing gold and power! I will not be of such a world, nor with it;-I will not be like my fathe

owed him through the winding woods down to the shore, where the waves made ot

nstruments mingling with harmonious voices,-though he scarcely heeded the soft rush of melody which came thus wafted to his ears. He was full of thoughts and schemes,-his son's refusal to confide in him had n

"Felicité perpétuelle" sat the Queen, in a high chair of carved ivory, surrounded by her ladies. Delicious music, performed by players and singers who were hidden behind the trees, floated in voluptuous strains upon the air, and the King, looking at the exquisite grouping of fair women and flowers, lit by the coloured lamps which gleamed here and there among the thick foliage, wondered to himself how it chanced, that amid surroundings which were calculated to move the senses to the most refined and delicate rapture, he himself could feel no quickening pulse, no touch of admiration. These open-air renderings of music and song were the Queen's favourite form of recreation;-at such times alone would her proud face soften and her eyes grow l

on!" he said; "I a

r eyes with an expression that she

your singers finish their programme; afterwards do me the fa

o the harmonious throbbing of harps and violins around him, in the stillness of the languid southern night. His hand almost brushed against his wife's jewelled robes-the scent of the great lilies on her breast was waft

you, and yo

is little wo

the day, the

trees, the bi

art of our per

note of pa

ife's beaut

you, and yo

you!' Why, I

d, the time

orget my d

oil, my lon

our smile, and k

fe in the love

lad, so prou

you, and yo

me!' Ah, not

hance in this w

pect a pla

dwell in a b

did,-romanc

rom our lives'

ght be less h

you and y

you and yo

a joy we sha

o fair-I a

along till we

the grave, and

the days that ha

t have been,' c

you, and y

hite and waxen, and heavily odorous. He withdrew his gaze with a half smile at his own folly for imagining that she could be moved by a mere song to any expression of feeling,-even for a moment,-and allowed his glance to wander unreservedly over the forms and features of the other ladies in attendance wh

ind two days together. Fair on Monday, plain on Tuesday, sweet on Wednesday, sour on Thursday, tender on Friday, cold on Saturday, and in all moods

ment, was followed by a gay mazurka, played by all the ins

ard by a pretty page, who, in his picturesque costume of rose and gold, demurely followed his Royal lady's footsteps,-and so amid the curtseying ladies-in-waiting and other attendants, they

st sacred corners in the whole palace,-no one, not even the most intimate lady of the Court in personal attendance on her Majesty, dared enter it without special permission; and this being the case, the Queen h

ted, Madam! I will

made every attitude of hers a study for an artist, and waited for his next words; while he,

together a fool, he begins to consider the way in which he has spent, or is spending his life,-whether he has been, or is yet likely to be of any use to the world he lives in,-or if he is of less account than the blown froth of the sea, or the sand on the shore. Myriads and myriads of men and women are no more than this-no more than midges or ants or worms;-but every now and

ised her beautiful eyes

st now thought of

d, and bi

y great work to do for your sake I should have done it! Had you inspired me to achieve some great conquest, either for myself or others, I should no doubt have conquered! But I have lived for twen

fingers strayed among the great jewels she wore, and toyed unconsciously with a ruby talisman cut in the shape of a

hare Satan's aversion to man!-and strange indeed it is that even the most sympathetic companionship with your own sex cannot soften that aversion! However, we will not go into this;-the years have proved you true to your own temperament, and there is nothing to be said on the matter, either of blame or of praise. As I said, I have n

her head

mmands, Sir

eringly, as he extended it. "Read this carefully!-and if you have any objections to urge, I a

ment to whistle to a tiny bird swinging in a gilded cage, that p

he said softly,-"You are more Christ-lik

ng beside him. She held the paper he had given her in one hand, and as he look

r instructions, Sir!" she sa

k her hands a

ou!" he sa

beautiful cold woman's eyes drooped under t

life!-" sh

walls were stretching its whole width between us! Besides-we are both past our youth! And, according to certain highly instructed scientists and philosophers, the senses and affections grow numb with age. I do not believe this theory myself-for the jejune love of youth is as a taper's flame to the great and passionate tendernes

as si

hether our son,-or rather the nation's son

" she r

ard for us. Imagine Humphry weeping for my death, or yours! What a grotesque idea! And as for Rupert and Cyprian,-it is devoutly to be hoped that when we die, our funerals may be well over before the great cricket matches of the year come on, as otherwise they will curse us for having left the world at an inconvenient season!" He laughed. "How sentiment has gone out nowadays, or how it seems

eyes opened

l-fishers live there,-they have a community of their own, and

f Humphry were of the soul of me, as he is of the body of me, I should not even try to fathom his secret,-but he is the nation's child-heir to its throne-and as such, it is necessary that we, for the na

you in this, Sir, as in all

step or two

her corsage, took it in his own hand. "Good-night! This flower will remi

half of tenderness, half of regret, and bowing in

the first time in her life by the consciousness of something infinitely noble, and altogether above her in her husband's nature. Slowly she drew out the paper he had given her from her bosom and read it t

ured-"Braver than I tho

r what she considered mere weakness. And passing quickly out of the boudoir, in the vague fear that solitude might deepen the sense of impotence and failure which insinuated itself slowly upon her, like a dull blight creeping through h