Chapter II.—The King.
The tyrant Richard the III. (late Mr.
Gloster) sat upon his throne in the Palace
d' St. Cloud. He was dressed in his best
clothes, and gorgeous trappings surrounded
him everywhere. Courtiers, in glittering
and golden armor, stood ready at his beck.
He sat moodily for a while, when suddenly
his sword flashed from its silvern scabbard,
and he shouted—
“Slaves, some wine, ho!”
The words had scarcely escaped his lips
ere a bucket of champagne and a hoe were
placed before him.
As the king raised the bucket to his lips,
a deep voice near by, proceeding from the
mouth of the noble Count Staghisnibs,
cried—“Drink hearty, old feller.”
“Reports, traveling on lightning-wings,
whisper of strange goings on and cuttings
up throughout this kingdom. Knowest
thou aught of these things, most noble
Hellitysplit?” and the king drew from the
upper pocket of his gold-faced vest a paper
of John Anderson's solace and proceeded
to take a chaw.
“Treason stalks monster-like throughout
unhappy France, my liege!” said the noble
Hellitysplit. The ranks of the P. Q. R's
are daily swelling, and the G. R. J. A.'s are
constantly on the increase. Already the
peasantry scout at cat-fish, and demand
pickled salmon for their noonday repasts.
But, my liege,” and the brave Hellitysplit's
eyes flashed fire, “myself and sword are at
thy command!”
“Bully for you, Count,” said the king.
“But soft: methinks report—perchance
unjustly—hast spoken suspiciously of thee,
most Royal d'Sardine? How is this? Is
it a newspaper yarn?
What's up?”
D'Sardine meekly approached the throne,
knelt at the king's feet, and said: “Most
patient, gray, and red-headed skinner; my
very approved shin-plaster: that I've been
asked to drink by the P. Q. R.'s, it is most
true; true, I have imbibed sundry mugs of
lager with them. The very head and front
of my offending hath this extent, no more.”
“Tis well!” said the King, rising and
looking fiercely around. “Hadst thou
proved false I would with my own good
sword have cut off yer head, and spilled
your ber-lud all over the floor! If I
wouldn't, blow me!”
