“Not for a moment, madame,” said Courtney, instantly, and with a quick smile at the King.

“You would protest?”

“Most strenuously—­and so would Washington.”

She looked at me with a triumphant sneer.

“You hear, Your Highness!” she exclaimed.

“Yes,” said I, “I hear.”

“I presume I am now at liberty to depart.”

“From the room?—­undoubtedly,” I answered.

“Thank you—­I mean from Dornlitz.”

“Whenever you will,” said I; “on the terms I gave you.”

She turned, again, to Courtney.

“I appeal to Your Excellency for protection.”

“Upon what basis, madame?” he asked formally.

She looked surprised.

“As an American subject,” she said.

“And under what name?” Courtney asked.

“My rightful one, of course,” she laughed:  “Madeline Dalberg.”

“Wife of the Grand Duke Armand?” he went on.

“Surely, monsieur—­who else?”

“That, madame, if you will pardon, is the material point.  As wife of a Valerian Prince you are a subject of His Majesty, Frederick the Third, and the American Government has no jurisdiction to interfere.”

“But, His Majesty has just said I was not comprehended in the Decree restoring my husband,” she objected.

“Of course, I can speak only according to the doctrine of the United States,” said Courtney.  “It asks only if you are the wife of a foreigner.  If you are, then, his citizenship determines yours.”

She gave Courtney a sarcastic smile, and addressed the King.

“Will Your Majesty tell me wherein the Valerian doctrine differs from the American?” she asked.

“It is precisely similar,” said Frederick.

She leaned forward.  “Then, though not an Archduchess, I am, nevertheless, a subject of Your Majesty,” she said.

The King frowned.  “My dear madame,” he said, “questions of citizenship are not presented to me, originally.  They are passed upon by the proper Department of my Government and reach me, only, in case of peculiarly extraordinary circumstances.”

She arose, and went close over to the King.

“Your Majesty has heard me appeal for protection to the Ambassador of my native land and be refused, because I was no longer an American citizen,” she began.  “And you, yourself, have practically admitted he was correct, and that I am a Valerian subject.  Therefore, I demand that freedom of action which is granted to all your citizens, and that the order of the Governor of Dornlitz be revoked.”

Frederick looked at her sternly for a moment.

“Pray be seated, madame,” he said; “and permit me to observe that, if you are my subject, your manner of address is scarcely respectful to your King.”

“I do not desire to be disrespectful,” she replied; “but, if I am your subject, I have the undoubted right to the protection of your laws.  I ask Your Majesty if I am receiving that protection?  I ask Your Majesty if those laws permit one, unaccused of any crime or wrong-doing, to be held prisoner within the limits of a town?  I ask Your Majesty if those laws sanction such an order as your Governor, yonder, has made respecting me?”