Volume VII - Modernist Magazines Project

60 The Queen's Pleasurenogoria were a good deal inclined to spend the bulk of their time—and money—in foreign parts. They found Paris, Monte Carlo,St. Petersburg, Vienna, and even, if you can believe me, sometimesLondon, on the whole more agreeable as places of residencethan their hereditary capital. (There was the particularly flagrantcase of Paul II, our Theodore's great-grandfather, who lived fortwenty years on end in Rome. He fancied himself a statuary,poor gentleman, and produced—oh, such amazing Groups ! Tonsof them repose in the Royal Museum at Vescova; a few bravethe sky here and there in lost corners of the Campagna—he used topresent them to the Pope ! Perhaps you have seen his Fountain atAcqu'amarra ?) It was to discourage this sort of royal absenteeismthat the patriotic framers of the Constitution slyly slipped Sub-Clause 18 into Clause ii, of Title 3, of Article XXXVI : Concerningthe Appointment of a Regent."So," said Theodore, "when you have finally made up yourmind, I shall be glad if you will let me know ; for I've got toname a Regent."But the Queen continued to hesitate ; in the morning it wasYes, in the evening No ; and the eleventh hour was drawing nearand nearer. The King was to leave on Monday. On the previousTuesday, in a melting mood, Aneli had declared, " There !Once for all, to make an end of it, I'll go." On Wednesday aCommission of Regency, appointing Prince Stephen, was drawnup. On Thursday it was brought to the Palace for the royalsignature. The King had actually got as far as the d in hisname, when the Queen, faltering at sight of the irrevocable document,laid her hand on his arm. She was very pale, and hervoice was weak. " No, Theo, don't sign it. It's like my deathwarrant.I—I haven't got the courage. You'll have to let mestay. You'll have to go alone." On Friday a new commissionwas