this. I do not wish anything foolish or egotistical toned down out of
affection for me. It was all written in sincerity, and if I had faults,
they must not be hidden. If it is to be history, it must be true
history, even if it gives you and me or any of us away."

So we promised.

He also said that, as Sir Edward Bingham Trent, Bart.--as he is now--was
sure to have some matter which we should like, he would write and ask him
to send such to us. He also said that Mr. Ernest Roger Halbard Melton,
of Humcroft, Salop (he always gives this name and address in full, which
is his way of showing contempt), would be sure to have some relevant
matter, and that he would have him written to on the subject. This he
did. The Chancellor wrote him in his most grandiloquent style. Mr. E.
R. H. Melton, of H., S., replied by return post. His letter is a
document which speaks for itself:

HUMCROFT, SALOP,
_May_ 30, 1908.

MY DEAR COUSIN KING RUPERT,

I am honoured by the request made on your behalf by the Lord High
Chancellor of your kingdom that I should make a literary contribution
to the volume which my cousin, Queen Teuta, is, with the help of your
former governess, Miss MacKelpie, compiling. I am willing to do so,
as you naturally wish to have in that work some contemporary record
made by the Head of the House of Melton, with which you are
connected, though only on the distaff side. It is a natural ambition
enough, even on the part of a barbarian--or perhaps
semi-barbarian--King, and far be it from me, as Head of the House, to
deny you such a coveted privilege. Perhaps you may not know that I
am now Head of the House; my father died three days ago. I offered
my mother the use of the Dower House--to the incumbency of which,
indeed, she is entitled by her marriage settlement. But she
preferred to go to live at her seat, Carfax, in Kent. She went this
morning after the funeral. In letting you have the use of my
manuscript I make only one stipulation, but that I expect to be
rigidly adhered to. It is that all that I have written be put in the
book _in extenso_. I do not wish any record of mine to be garbled to
suit other ends than those ostensible, or whatever may be to the
honour of myself or my House to be burked. I