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.