able even."

"I am told that his Highness showed great dash and determination." Yet
whatever he had been told, there was embarrassment in the General's
manner.

"Very well, then," said the King, "if there is any more
tittle-tattle--in the press, I mean--you might let the facts be known;
surely they ought to strike the popular imagination; and I'm sure the
police need all the support we can give them just now."

The General hesitated.

"Would not that tend somewhat to prejudice his Highness's position as an
impartial head of the Commission? Talking to the workers themselves,
before the sittings have yet begun, has a certain air of _parti pris_.
Some of the Commission, I fear, would not like it."

"To tell the truth," said the King, "I very much doubt whether the
Prince will serve upon that Commission at all. He will probably be
called elsewhere."

The Comptroller seemed considerably relieved. "Ah, that, of course,
entirely removes the difficulty. I am afraid, sir, things are in a very
disturbed state; so many people with new ideas are airing them just now;
sympathy is being shown for criminals, and respect for government is not
increasing. I know that the Prime Minister is getting very anxious; he
hopes that to-morrow he may see your Majesty."

The King did not welcome the news; during the past few months he had
quite lost any remnant of liking that he might once have had for the
head of his Government. But when the Prime Minister arrived they
exchanged the usual compliments and each was glad to see the other
looking so well after change of air and occupation. In the Prime
Minister's case, however, that was already over; politicians were in
harness again to their respective departments, and on reopening his
portfolio he had found a pack of troubles awaiting him.

The nuisance of Jingalese politics was this, that the political
situation never would keep itself within the bounds of the ministerial
program; and to-day not only had certain voting interests become
obstreperous, but other interests which had not the vote were
obstreperous also. In these last few months, while its rulers had been
taking their well-earned rest, Jingalo had remained agog, obstinately
progressive on foolish lines of its own; nothing any longer seemed
content to stay as it had been: movement had become a craze.

Under his monarch's eye the Prime Minister thumbed his notes. He spoke
of falling revenue, stagnation of trade, strikes, and th