Ten minutes to nine! exclaimed the young man, with an impatient gesture of despair. He turned his back upon the house and took a rapid step or two in a contrary direction.
Remain! commanded Prince Michael, in so potent a voice that the disturbed one wheeled around with a somewhat chagrined laugh.
Ill give her the ten minutes and then Im off, he muttered, and then aloud to the Prince: Ill join you in confounding all clocks, my friend, and throw in women, too.
Sit down, said the Prince calmly. I do not accept your addition. Women are the natural enemies of clocks, and, therefore, the allies of those who would seek liberation from these monsters that measure our follies and limit our pleasures. If you will so far confide in me I would ask you to relate to me your story.
The young man threw himself upon the bench with a reckless laugh.
Your Royal Highness, I will, he said, in tones of mock deference. Do you see yonder house the one with three upper windows lighted? Well, at 6 oclock I stood in that house with the young lady I am that is, I was engaged to. I had been doing wrong, my dear Prince I had been a naughty boy, and she had heard of it. I wanted to be forgiven, of course we are always wanting women to forgive us, arent we, Prince?
I want time to think it over, said she. There is one thing certain; I will either fully forgive you, or I will never see your face again. There will be no half-way business. At half-past eight, she said, at exactly half-past eight you may be watching the middle upper window of the top floor. If I decide to forgive I will hang out of that window a white silk scarf. You will know by that that all is as was before, and you may come to me. If you see no scarf you may consider that everything between us is ended forever. That, concluded the young man bitterly, is why I have been watching that clock. The time for the signal to appear has passed twenty-three minutes ago. Do you wonder that I am a little disturbed, my Prince of Rags and Whiskers?
Let me repeat to you, said Prince Michael, in his even, well-modulated tones, that women are the natural enemies of clocks. Clocks are an evil, women a blessing. The signal may yet appear.
Never, on your principality! exclaimed the young man, hopelessly. You dont know Marian of course. Shes always on time, to the minute. That was the first thing about her that attracted me. Ive got the mitten instead of the scarf. I ought to have known at 8.31 that my goose was cooked. Ill go West on the 11.45 to-night with Jack Milburn. The jigs up. Ill try Jacks ranch awhile and top off with the Klondike and whiskey. Good-night er er Prince.
Prince Michael smiled his enigmatic, gentle, comprehending smile and caught the coat sleeve of the other. The brilliant light in the Princes eyes was softening to a dreamier, cloudy translucence.
Wait, he said solemnly, till the clock strikes. I have wealth and power and knowledge above most men, but when the clock strikes I am afraid. Stay by me until then. This woman shall be yours. You have the word of the hereditary Prince of Valleluna. On the day of your marriage I will give you $100,000 and a palace on the Hudson. But there must be no clocks in that palace they measure our follies and limit our pleasures. Do you agree to that?
Let me repeat to you, said Prince Michael, in his even, well-modulated tones, that women are the natural enemies of clocks. Clocks are an evil, women a blessing. The signal may yet appear.
Never, on your principality! exclaimed the young man, hopelessly. You dont know Marian of course. Shes always on time, to the minute. That was the first thing about her that attracted me. Ive got the mitten instead of the scarf. I ought to have known at 8.31 that my goose was cooked. Ill go West on the 11.45 to-night with Jack Milburn. The jigs up. Ill try Jacks ranch awhile and top off with the Klondike and whiskey. Good-night er er Prince.
Prince Michael smiled his enigmatic, gentle, comprehending smile and caught the coat sleeve of the other. The brilliant light in the Princes eyes was softening to a dreamier, cloudy translucence.
Wait, he said solemnly, till the clock strikes. I have wealth and power and knowledge above most men, but when the clock strikes I am afraid. Stay by me until then. This woman shall be yours. You have the word of the hereditary Prince of Valleluna. On the day of your marriage I will give you $100,000 and a palace on the Hudson. But there must be no clocks in that palace they measure our follies and limit our pleasures. Do you agree to that?
Of course, said the young man, cheerfully, theyre a nuisance, anyway always ticking and striking and getting you late for dinner.
He glanced again at the clock in the tower. The hands stood at three minutes to nine.
I think, said Prince Michael, that I will sleep a little. The day has been fatiguing.
He stretched himself upon a bench with the manner of one who had slept thus before.
You will find me in this park on any evening when the weather is suitable, said the Prince, sleepily. Come to me when your marriage day is set and I will give you a cheque for the money.