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Africa。 They say he married an African lady thereand that the Duke is
really more in the direct line of succession than Prince Rupert。〃
But here the daughter showed me to my room。 She blushed； of
course； and apologized for not bringing a candle； as she thought my hair
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was sufficiently illuminating。 〃But；〃 she added with another blush； 〃I do
SO like it。〃
I replied by giving her something of no value；a Belgian nickel which
wouldn't pass in Bock； as I had found to my cost。 But my hair had
evidently attracted attention from others； for on my return to the guest…
room a stranger approached me； and in the purest and most precise
Germanthe Court or 'Olland Hof speech addressed me：
〃Have you the red hair of the fair King or the hair of your father？〃
Luckily I was able to reply with the same purity and precision： 〃I have
both the hair of the fair King and my own。 But I have not the hair of my
father nor of Black Michael； nor of the innkeeper nor the innkeeper's wife。
The red HEIR of the fair King would be a son。〃
Possibly this delicate mot on the approaching marriage of the King
was lost in the translation； for the stranger strode abruptly away。 I learned；
however； that the King was actually then in Bock； at the castle a few miles
distant； in the woods。 I resolved to stroll thither。
It was a fine old mediaeval structure。 But as the singular incidents I
am about to relate combine the romantic and adventurous atmosphere of
the middle ages with all the appliances of modern times； I may briefly
state that the castle was lit by electricity； bad fire…escapes on each of the
turrets； four lifts； and was fitted up by one of the best West End
establishments。 The sanitary arrangements were excellent； and the
drainage of the most perfect order； as I had reason to know personally later。
I was so affected by the peaceful solitude that I lay down under a tree and
presently fell asleep。 I was awakened by the sound of voices； and；
looking up； beheld two men bending over me。 One was a grizzled
veteran； and the other a younger dandyfied man； both were dressed in
shooting suits。
〃Never saw such a resemblance before in all my life；〃 said the elder
man。 〃'Pon my soul！ if the King hadn't got shaved yesterday because the
Princess Flirtia said his beard tickled her； I'd swear it was he！〃
I could not help thinking how lucky it wasfor this narrative that the
King HAD shaved； otherwise my story would have degenerated into a
mere Comedy of Errors。 Opening my eyes； I said boldly：
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〃Now that you are satisfied who I resemble； gentlemen； perhaps you
will tell me who you are？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the elder curtly。 〃I am Spitza simple colonel of his
Majesty's； yet； nevertheless； the one man who runs this whole dynasty
and this young gentleman is Fritz； my lieutenant。 And you are？〃
〃My name is Razorbillbrother to Lord Burleydon；〃 I replied calmly。
〃Good heavens！ another of the lot！〃 he muttered。 Then； correcting
himself； he said brusquely： 〃Any relation to that Englishwoman who was
so sweet on the old Rupert centuries ago？〃
Here； again； I suppose my sister…in…law would have had me knock
down the foreign insulter of my English ancestressbut I colored to the
roots of my hair； and even fartherwith pleasure at this proof of my royal
descent！ And then a cheery voice was heard calling 〃Spitz！〃 and 〃Fritz！〃
through the woods。
〃The King！〃 said Spitz to Fritz quickly。 〃He must not see him。〃
〃Too late；〃 said Fritz； as a young man bounded lightly out of the
bushes。
I was thunderstruck！ It was as if I had suddenly been confronted with
a mirrorand beheld myself！ Of course he was not quite so good…
looking； or so tall； but he was still a colorable imitation！ I was delighted。
Nevertheless； for a moment he did not seem to reciprocate my feeling。
He stared at me； staggered back and passed his hand across his forehead。
〃Can it be；〃 he muttered thickly； 〃that I've got 'em agin？ Yet I only had
shingle glash！〃
But Fritz quickly interposed。
〃Your Majesty is all rightthough；〃 he added in a lower voice； 〃let this
be a warning to you for to…morrow！ This gentleman is Mr。 Razorbill
you know the old story of the Razorbills？Ha！ ha！〃
But the King did not laugh； he extended his hand and said gently； 〃You
are welcomemy cousin！〃 Indeed； my sister…in…law would have
probably said thatdissipated though he washe was the only gentleman
there。
〃I have come to see the coronation； your Majesty；〃 I said。
〃And you shall；〃 said the King heartily； 〃and shall go with us！ The
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show can't begin without useh； Spitz？〃 he added playfully； poking the
veteran in the ribs； 〃whatever Michael may do！〃
Then he linked his arms in Spitz's and mine。 〃Let's go to the hut
and have some supper and fizz；〃 he said gayly。
We went to the hut。 We had supper。 We ate and drank heavily。 We
danced madly around the table。 Nevertheless I thought that Spitz and
Fritz were worried by the King's potations； and Spitz at last went so far as
to remind his Majesty that they were to start early in the morning for
Kohlslau。 I noticed also that as the King drank his speech grew thicker
and Spitz and Fritz exchanged glances。 At last Spitz said with stern
significance：
〃Your Majesty has not forgotten the test invariably submitted to the
King at his coronation？〃
〃Shertenly not；〃 replied the King； with his reckless laugh。 〃The King
mush be able to pronounshname of his countryintel…lillil… gibly： mush
shay （hic！）： 'I'm King ofKing ofTootoo…tooral… looral…anyer。'〃 He
staggered； laughed； and fell under the table。
〃He cannot say it！〃 gasped Fritz and Spitz in one voice。 〃He is lost！〃
〃U