ers that to-morrow the definite and
irrevocable announcement is to be made public."

Again he paused; and the King did not answer him.

"I wish to ask, therefore, whether it is your Majesty's wish that the
announcement of the abdication shall be postponed?"

"Yes," said the King, and his words came slow, "I suppose that it must
be--as you say--postponed."

"Does your Majesty wish to suggest any later date?"

The King thought for a while before answering.

"Is there any reason that I should?" But though he thus spoke to
temporize over the position in which he now found himself, he knew that
his opportunity was gone never to recur.

"Merely for our own guidance," explained the Prime Minister. "There is
to be a special Cabinet meeting to-night."

"What are you going to discuss?"

"Should your Majesty remain, it will be our duty to present an address
of loyal congratulation immediately on the reassembling of Parliament;
and that, under the new circumstances, must take place almost at once.
In any event some address will, of course, have to be moved; but if what
has happened to-day is followed by an abdication, then regrets and deep
gratitude for all the gracious benefits of the past would have to be
added, and the whole form of it most carefully weighed and considered. I
may say, therefore, that we are even now awaiting your Majesty's
instructions."

"And you can do nothing till I decide?"

"Nothing practical, sir."

Their eyes met with a lurking watchfulness; and it was not difficult for
each to read something of the other's thought. The King knew that behind
all that aspect of deference and humility lay a sense of triumph,
almost malignant in its intensity. He knew that circumstances had beaten
him; and that the bomb of some wretched assassin had made his abdication
impossible. The Prime Minister had said that he had no wish to press
him; but what a pretense and hypocrisy that was, when that very night
the Cabinet would have to meet and register its decision in one of two
alternative forms totally distinct. Yes; the Ministry had him now in a
cleft stick; and no pressure was to be put upon him only because there
was no possibility for his decision to be delayed.

Defeat, following upon the terrific events of the day, filled his brain
with weariness. At the moment when he had hoped to be free of his
persecutors he had come once again to a blank wall. Further progress was
barred, further thinking had become u