ned; and the Doctor and myself stepped a
little apart, as he lost no time in informing me he wished to say a word
in private.

"My dear Sir John," the philosopher began, "our arrival has been the
most happily-timed thing imaginable! All Leaphigh, by this time, is
filled with the subject; and you can scarcely conceive the importance
that is attached to the event. New sources of trade, scientific
discoveries, phenomena both moral and physical, and results that it is
thought may serve to raise the monikin civilization still higher than
ever! Fortunately, the academy holds its most solemn meeting of the year
this very day, and I have been formally requested to give the assembly
an outline of those events which have lately passed before my eyes. The
king's eldest first cousin of the masculine gender is to attend openly;
and it is even conjectured, in a way to be quite authentic, that the
king himself will be present in his own royal person."

"How!" I exclaimed, "have you a mode, in Leaphigh, of rendering
conjectures certain?"

"Beyond a doubt, sir, or what would our civilization be worth? As to the
king's majesty, we always deal in the most direct ambiguities. Now as
respects many of our ceremonies, the sovereign is known morally to be
present, when he may be actually and physically eating his dinner at the
other extremity of the island; this important illustration of the royal
ubiquity is effected by means of a legal fiction. On the other hand, the
king often indulges his natural propensities, such as curiosity, love
of fun, or detestation of ennui, by coming in person, when, by the court
fiction, he is thought to be seated on his throne, in his own royal
palace. Oh! as to all these little accomplishments and graces in the art
of truths, we are behind no people in the universe!"

"I beg pardon, Doctor--so his majesty is expected to be at the academy
this morning?"

"In a private box. Now this affair is of the last importance to me as
a savant, to you as a human being--for it will have a tendency to raise
your whole species in the monikin estimation--and, lastly, to learning.
It will be indispensably necessary that you should attend, with as many
of your companions as possible, more especially the better specimens.
I was coming down to the landing in the hope of meeting you; and a
messenger has gone off to the ship to require that the people be sent
ashore forthwith. You will have a tribune to yourselves; and, really,