clock that means that you will be unfit to listen you think so responded and leaning on he stumbled onward the two passing close in front of the doorway where stood concealed but i am more ready to understand wisdom when drunk than when sober my you do not understand i am a human � the result of an between a and an angel believe me i will listen to with all my devil soul � you will listen to her with all your loving longing heart � and with us two thus attentive the opinions of the rest of the audience will scarcely matter how the street how the old moon dances so did she whirl when clasped his egyptian queen and lost remember the fate of would have been seized and controlled by men such as you are long before now � if there had not always been a woman in the case � a � or a still laughing foolishly he half supporting half leading him with grave and compassion they were soon out of sight and leaving his dark crossed the bridge with an alert step and mounted a steep street leading to the from between the tall leaning houses a glimpse of the sea by the dying moonlight flashed now and again and in the silence of the night the low ripple of small waves against the could be distinctly heard a sense of holy calm impressed him as he paused a moment and the words of an old verse came back to him from some far oflf depth of memory lord christ i would my soul were clear as air with only thy pure radiance falling through he caught his breath hard � there was a sense as of tears in his eyes so proudly and so he muttered yet � has not the and been whose is the blame not with the people secret service who despite the prophet s warning still put their trust in princes � but with the and of the system is like an old ship stuck fast in the and unfit for sailing the wide seas � with of custom and prejudice � and in every gale of wind pulling and straining at a rusty chain anchor but the spirit of change is in the world a hurrying movement that has wings of fire and might possibly be called revolution it is better that the torch should be lighted from the throne than from the he went on his way quickly � till reaching the outer wall of the he was by a to whom he gave the in a low tone the man drew back satisfied and went on mounting from point to point of the cliff till he reached a private gate leading into the wide park lands which skirted the king s palace here stood a muffled and figure evidently watching for him for as soon as he appeared the gate was noiselessly opened for his and he passed in at once then he and the person who had awaited his coming walked together through the scented woods of pine and and talking in low and confidential voices slowly disappeared chapter xiv the king s the de was a heavy and for some time had been growing than was advisable for the dignity of a prime minister he had been defeated of late years in one or two important measures and his had by gradual degrees succeeded in himself into such close connection with the rest of the members of the cabinet that he felt himself being edged out only from political but from the profits so growing somewhat indifferent as well as disgusted at the course affairs were taking he had made up his mind to retire from office as soon as he liad carried through a certain bill which in its results would have the effect of the people of the country while helping on his own interests to a considerable degree at the immediate moment he had a chance of large on the political horizon could not do anything of very great importance without him they were both too deeply involved together in the same schemes in point of fact if could bring the to a fall the could do the same by the two depended on each other and conscious that if gained any fresh accession of power it would be to his s advantage was gradually preparing to gracefully resign his position in the younger and more ambitious man s favour but he was not altogether comfortable in his mind since his last interview with the king the king had shown unusual signs of self will and obstinacy he had presumed to give a command affecting the national policy and moreover he had threatened if his command were not obeyed to address parliament himself on the subject in hand from the throne such an i the king s idea was very to the s mind it had cost him a sleepless night and when he woke to a new day s work he was in an extremely irritable humour he was doubtful how to act � for to complain of the king would not do and to the members of the cabinet as to his majesty s declared determination to dispose of certain difficulties with a foreign power which the had fully up into a flame of war might possibly awaken a storm of and discussion we all want money said the gloomily as he rose from his tumbled bed to take his first breakfast and read his early morning letters � and to crush a small and insolent race whose country is rich in product is simply the act of an orange for the necessary life would be lost of course but we are over and a good war would rid the country of many and and could be provided for by national invested as the think fit and 