As I dashed up the news was confirmed by the comments and jokes of the crowd.
"Ah, he's in a hurry," they said.

"He's kept the king waiting.

He'll get a wigging." As may be supposed, I paid little heed to them.

I sprang out and ran up the steps to the door.

I saw my wife's face at the window: she herself ran to the door and opened it for me.
"Good God," I whispered, "do all these people know he's here, and take him for the king ?" "Yes," she said.