to the respect due to royalty."

"My dear countess," said the young king, gravely, "I believe, on the
contrary, that it will only increase the respect which people will
feel for us, if her majesty remains a woman in the noblest and
truest meaning of the word, and my wife--I beg your pardon, I was
going to say the queen--is such a woman. And now, my dear countess,
permit me to go to her."

"No," exclaimed the mistress of ceremonies, resolutely. "Your
majesty must first condescend to listen to me. For an hour already I
have been waiting here for your majesty's arrival, and you must now
graciously permit me to speak to you as frankly and sincerely as is
required by my duty and official position."

"Well, I will listen to you, my dear countess," said the king, with
an inaudible sigh.

"Your majesty," said the mistress of ceremonies, "I consider it my
duty to beseech your majesty on this memorable day to confer upon me
the power of enforcing the privileges of my office with more
severity and firmness."

"And to submit myself to your sceptre. That is what you want me to
do, I suppose, dear countess?" asked the king, smiling.

"Sire, at all events it is impossible to keep up the dignity and
majesty of royalty if the king and queen themselves openly defy the
laws of etiquette."