'A good one on you!' "'The trouble with that joke, sir,' I ventured to reply, 'is that it's out of date.' "He was in a very gay mood, surely because of our entry into the war.
After the dinner--there were no guests except Mrs.Page and me, the members of his household, of course, being present--he became even familiar in the smoking room.

He talked about himself and his position as king.

'Knowing the difficulties of a limited monarch, I thank heaven I am spared being an absolute one.' "He went on to enumerate the large number of things he was obliged to do, for example, to sign the death warrant of every condemned man--and the little real power that he had--not at all in a tone of complaint, but as a merely impersonal explanation.
"Just how much power--perhaps 'influence' is a better word--the King has, depends on his personality.

The influence of the throne--and of him on the throne, being a wholly thoughtful, industrious, and conscientious man--is very great--greatest of all in keeping the vested interests of the aristocratic social structure secure.
"Earlier than this visit to Windsor he sent for me to go to Buckingham Palace very soon after we declared war.

He went over the whole course of events--and asked me many questions.