the cruise of the jasper b.-第40节

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wound　your　sensibilities　in　any　particular；　butpardon　me　if　I

am　directyou　have　been　very　persistent。　　I　AM　an　American；　your

Majesty；　and　I　consider　the　honor　of　being　an　American　citizen

far　above　any　that　it　is　within　your　power　to　bestow。　　If　I　have

not　mentioned　this　before；　it　was　because　I　did　not　wish　to　hurt

you。　　I　hope　our　friendship　will　not　cease；　but　I　must　tell　you

flatly　that　I　desire　to　hear　no　more　of　this。　　You　will　oblige　me

by　not　mentioning　it　again；　Your　Majesty。〃



The　King　begged　Cleggett's　pardon　with　a　becoming　sincerity；　and

was　about　to　withdraw。　　Cleggett；　who　liked　him　immensely；　was

sudden　smitten　with　a　regret　that　it　had　been　so　impossible　to

oblige　him。



〃Your　Majesty；〃　he　cried　impulsively；　〃I　BEG　of　you　not　to　get

the　idea　that　there　is　anything　personal　in　this　refusal。〃



〃I　respect　principle；〃　said　the　King　gravely。　　But　he　WAS　hurt

and　could　not　help　showing　it；　and　he　was　a　little　stiff。



〃We　will　compromise；〃　said　Cleggett；　with　a　flash　of　inspiration。



〃I　will　let　you　have　my　second　son；　Athos　Cleggett。　　You　may　make

him　Earl　of　Claiborne；　if　you　choose。　　After　all；　HE　is　half

English！〃



〃That　is　like　your　generosity；　Cleggett；〃　said　the　King；　smiling；

and　giving　Cleggett　his　hand。











End