But it is
the lot of prominent personages to inspire these strange
passions, and the king had spent as little thought on her as on
any of the romantic girls who found a naughty delight in
half-fanciful devotion to him--devotion starting, in many cases,
by an irony of which the king was happily unconscious, from the
brave figure that he made at his coronation and his picturesque
daring in the affair of Black Michael. The worshipers never came
near enough to perceive the alteration in their idol.
The half then, at least, of Rosa's attachment was justly due to
the man who now stood opposite to her, looking at her with
surprise by the murky light of the strong-smelling oil-lamp. The
lamp shook and almost fell from her hand when she saw him; for
the scarf had slid away, and his features were exposed to full
view. Fright, delight, and excitement vied with one another in
her eyes.
"The king!" she whispered in amazement. "No, but--" And she
searched his face wonderingly.
"Is it the beard you miss?" asked Rudolf, fingering his chin.
"Mayn't kings shave when they please, as well as other men?" Her
face still expressed bewilderment, and still a lingering doubt.
He bent towards her, whispering:
"Perhaps I wasn't over-anxious to be known at once.
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