At first, it was Old Hank's approach to polygamy: so ham-handed it was funny. All of it was veiled in royal wit, of course – he didn't come right out and say anything really, but the point seemed to be: why do people call me a libertine? At least I don't chop their heads off. If Daniel (or any other scholar in this place) had wanted to die instantly, he could have stood up at this point and hollered, 'Well, at least he eventually got round to producing a legitimate male heir!' but this did not occur.