And by hideous contrast, a redundant orator was making a speech to another gathering not thirty steps away, in fulsome laudation of "our glorious British liberties!" I was boiling.

I had forgotten I was a plebeian, I was remembering I was a man.

Cost what it might, I would mount that rostrum and-- Click! the king and I were handcuffed together! Our companions, those servants, had done it; my lord Grip stood looking on.

The king burst out in a fury, and said: "What meaneth this ill-mannered jest ?" My lord merely said to his head miscreant, coolly: "Put up the slaves and sell them!" _Slaves!_ The word had a new sound--and how unspeakably awful! The king lifted his manacles and brought them down with a deadly force; but my lord was out of the way when they arrived.

A dozen of the rascal's servants sprang forward, and in a moment we were helpless, with our hands bound behind us.