Then he shut the door with his heel, and came forward and set the dish down.
"Dinner first--" he said.
"I must see His Majesty," I repeated.
"Why you are an obstinate fellow, Mr.Mallock," he said, smiling.

"Have I not given you my word you shall see him ?" "Directly ?" He leaned his hands on the table and looked at me.
"Mr.Mallock; His Majesty will be here in ten minutes' time.

I told him you must eat something first; and he said he would wait till then." * * * * * The stew he had brought me was very savoury: and I ate it all up; for I had had nothing to eat since supper last night; and, by the time I had done, and had told him very briefly what had passed at Hare Street, I felt some of my bewilderment was gone.

It is marvellous how food can change the moods of the immortal soul herself; but I was none the less determined, I thought, to leave the King's service; for I could not serve any man, I thought, whose hands were as red as his in the blood of innocents.
I had hardly done, and was blessing myself, when Mr.Chiffinch went out suddenly, and had returned before I had stood up, to hold the door open for the King.
He came in, that great Prince,--( for in spite of all I still count him to be that, _in posse_ if not _in esse_)--as airy and as easy as if nothing in the world was the matter.

He was but just come from dinner, and his face was flushed a little under its brown, with wine; and his melancholy eyes were alight.