Disowned

           TheKingsatmusingafewmoments,thenlookedupandsaid—

           "‘Tisstrange—moststrange.Icannotaccountforit."

           "No,itisnotstrange,myliege.Iknowhim,andthisconductisbutnatural.Hewasarascalfromhisbirth."

           "Oh,Ispakenotofhim,SirMiles."

           "Notofhim?Thenofwhat?Whatisitthatisstrange?"

           "ThattheKingisnotmissed."

           "How?Which?IdoubtIdonotunderstand."

           "Indeed?Dothitnotstrikeyouasbeingpassingstrangethatthelandisnotfilledwithcouriersandproclamationsdescribingmypersonandmakingsearchforme?IsitnomatterforcommotionanddistressthattheHeadoftheStateisgone;thatIamvanishedawayandlost?"

           "Mosttrue,myKing,Ihadforgot."ThenHendonsighed,andmutteredtohimself,"Poorruinedmind—stillbusywithitspatheticdream."

           "ButIhaveaplanthatshallrightusboth—Iwillwriteapaper,inthreetongues—Latin,GreekandEnglish—andthoushalthasteawaywithittoLondoninthemorning.Giveittononebutmyuncle,theLordHertford;whenheshallseeit,hewillknowandsayIwroteit.Thenhewillsendforme."