At least the king should acquaint his visitors with the true cause of this treatment." In his turn the Englishman resorted to oblique glances.
"The king ?" The inspector raised a shoulder and spread his hands.

"The king is a paralytic, Monsieur, and has little to say these days." "A paralytic?
I thought he was called `the handsome monarch' ?" "That was years ago, Monsieur.

For three years he has been helpless and bedridden.

The archbishop is the real king nowadays.

But he meddles not with the police." "This is very sad.