Wotherspoon talked of Italy, and Mrs.
Alison of Babylonish lords.... The point was that he relished Paynim
knight and Renaissance noble and prince of Babylon. Let Ian seem or be
all that, and richer yet! Still there would be Ian, outside of all
circles drawn.
In the room that he called the "alchemical," Ian, disengaging himself,
turned and put both hands on Alexander's shoulders. "Thou Old
Steadfast!" he cried. "God knows how glad I am to see thee!"
Alexander laughed. "Not more glad than I am at the sight of you!
What's the tidings?"
"What should they be? I am tired of being King George's soldier!"
"So that you are tired of being any little king of this earth's
soldier!"
"Why, I think I am--"
"Kings 'over the water' included, Ian?"
"Kings without kingdoms? Well," said Ian, "they don't amount to much,
do they?"
"They do not." The two moved together to the table and the chairs by
it. "You are free of them, Ian?"
"What is it to be free of them?"
"Well, to be plain, out of the Stewart cark and moil! Pretender,
Chevalier de St. George, or uncrowned king--let it drift away like the
dead leaf it is!"
"A dead leaf. Is it a dead leaf?... I wonder!... But you are usually
right, old Steadfast!"
"I see that you will not tell me plainly."
"Are you so anxious? There is nothing to be anxious about.
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