Therefore I carried the paper to the king, whom I found at cards in his closet.
"What is it, Clyde ?" asked his Majesty.
For answer, I handed him the subpoena, and when he had glanced over it, he returned it to me, saying:-- "Please tell the sheriff for me that Mistress Jennings will appear before the court of inquiry this afternoon at two o'clock." "It is a disagreeable business for a lady, your Majesty," I remarked, bowing.

"But if it is your desire--" "Yes, yes, Clyde! Come with me," he interrupted, leading me out of the room to a corridor.

"You see it is this way.

We of the palace have so frequently set the law at defiance of late that the citizens are beginning to grumble.

In this instance I should like to make a great show of compliance.