I know in answer to your question.'

"'I understand you, Phil,' the king said, lounging back upon the bed,
and kindling the new coals into a blaze around him by the mere contact
of his body. 'You are a philosopher out at elbows, and therefore a
little out of temper with the world. You would like best to make your
observations upon human nature without being jostled. You'd rather see
the play from a snug little box, than be an actor in it, kicked about
and worried.' 'Ah, sir,' said I, 'and where is such a seat provided?'
'Philip, I can answer that question,' said the king; 'and what is more,
I can give you free admission to a snug private box.' 'How so, sir?'
said I, quite eagerly. 'The coal-box, Phil,' replied the king. 'I'm
puzzled, sir,' said I. 'In what way is my condition to be improved by
the act of sitting in a coal-box?' 'That, my dear Phil, I will make as
clear to you as a fire on a frosty night. Know, then, that I am King
among the Coals.' I bowed, and was upon the point of kissing his
extended hand, but drew back my nose suddenly. 'The cinder which I now
have on I wear--because it is large and easy--in the manner of a
dressing-gown, when here at home. I am, however, a spirit, and ruler
over many other spirits similarly formed. Now, Phil, the business and
amusement of myself and subjects is to transfer ourselves at will into
the tenancy of any coal we please. The scuttles of the whole kingdom are
our meeting-houses. Every coal cast upon the fire, Phil, is, by our
means, animated with a living spirit. It is our amusement, then, to have
a merry sport among ourselves; and it is our privilege to watch the
scenes enacted round the hearths which we enliven. When the cinder
becomes cold, the spirit is again set free, and flies, whither it
pleases, to a new abode.'"

"Isn't that the doctrine of metamicosis?" asked the boy (a national
scholar) tapping the ashes from his pipe-bowl.

"It's a thing I never heard on," said the gamekeeper. Mr. Spruce went
on:

"'Did you never,' continued his majesty, 'when gazing into the fire, see
a grotesque face glow before you? That face, Phil, has been mine. You
have, then, seen the King among the Coals. If you become a cinder, Mr.
Spruce, you may consider yourself made a judge.'

"'Well, sir,' says I, 'your reverence, it's firstly requisite to judge
whether I will or won't sit down upon the fire. It's my opinion I
won't. I'd like a little more discussion.' 'Talk away, Phil,' said