es I couldn't safely go to anybody else with that proof;
either it would be somebody who couldn't get at it before it was
destroyed, or it would be those who had the whole thing in their own
hands."

"I quite see that," said the King.

"That's all I had to say, then, sir."

"I am very much in your debt; I shall not forget what I owe you. There
is one question I want to ask--you say that the charge must have been a
very feeble one?"

"Yes, sir, much less than an ordinary shell."

"What do you deduce from that fact?"

"Well, your Majesty, I should say that killing had never been intended."

"That it was only done to frighten some one?"

"That is about it, your Majesty."

"Thank you; that is what I wanted to know. And if you will leave me your
name, I think I can promise that you shall be at no disadvantage after I
have gone into the matter."

"I am much obliged, your Majesty." The inspector came forward, drew out
a card, and respectfully presenting it, retired again.

"Then, for the present, that is all," said the King. "It is now nearly
two o'clock. You can, I believe, let yourself out?"

And in the light of a gentle, half-quizzical smile from the royal
countenance, the inspector withdrew.

"What an amazing thing!" said the King to himself. "And oh! if it is
true!"

III

He knew that it was true; for in a flash he had seen the meaning of it.
And instead of angering him, it filled him with an almost intoxicating
sense of power. For it meant that the Prime Minister, or the
Government, could not do without him, he had been necessary to their
plans.

He could not distinctly see why, whether it were a fear of Max
succeeding to the throne at such a juncture or of popular resentment at
the sovereign being driven to so desperate a remedy for his griefs, or
fear merely of the damage that might be done to the monarchical system
while bureaucracy was still depending upon it as a cloak for
constitutional encroachments--whether one or all of these fears impelled
his minister, the King did not know; but he saw clearly enough that to
force him into withdrawal of his abdication the Prime Minister had
adopted a desperate and almost heroical remedy.

He bore the man no grudge; the more he envisaged the risks, the more he
admired and respected him. Feebly though the bomb had been charged,
carefully though directed by slow underhand bowling only at the legs of
horses, at a moment when the royal carriage had actually