Now there is
nothing I would more thoroughly enjoy then to go traveling about at
adventure with you, and to be a countess means nothing whatever to me. I
am sure I do not in the least care to live in a palace of my own, and be
bothered with fine clothes and the responsibility of looking after my
rubies, and with servants and parties every day. But you see, darling, I
simply could not bear to have people thinking ill of my dear husband,
and so, rather than have that happen, I am willing to put up with these
things."
"Oh, oh!" says Manuel, and he began pulling vexedly at his little gray
beard, "and does one obligation beget another as fast as this! Now
whatever would you have me do?"
"Obviously, you must get troops from King Ferdinand, and drive that
awful Asmund out of Poictesme."
"Dear me!" says Manuel, "but what a simple matter you make of it! Shall
I attend to it this afternoon?"
"Now, Manuel, you speak without thinking, for you could not possibly
re-conquer all Poictesme this afternoon--."
"Oh!" says Manuel.
"No, not single-handed, my darling. You would first have to get troops
to help you, both horse and foot.
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