"Princess," said my father, coldly, "your men have broken faith.
I came to you under no compulsion, obeying your flag of truce.
It was no part of the bargain that our camp should be pillaged."
For a while she did not seem to hear; but stood at gaze, her eyes
round with wonder.
"Stephanu, bring it here," she commanded.
The man brought it. "O principessa," said he, with a wondering grin,
"who are these that travel with royal crowns? If we were true folk
of the _macchia_, now, we could hold them at a fine ransom."
She took the crown, examined it for a moment, and turning to my
father, spoke to him swiftly in French.
"How came you by this, O Englishman?"
"That," answered my father, stiffly, "I decline to tell you.
It has come to your hands, Princess, through violation of your flag
of truce, and in honour you should restore it to me without
question."
She waved a hand impatiently. "This is the crown of King Theodore,
O Englishman. See the rim of mingled oak and laurel, made in
imitation of that hasty chaplet wherewith the Corsicans first crowned
him in the Convent of Alesani.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322