It was all impossible, but then, why should he return to his loneliness without attempting to find some one to share it with him?
The king was safe; his duty was as good as done; his conscience was at ease in that direction.

He needed not love, he thought, so much as sympathy....

Sympathy.

He turned over the word in his mind as a gem merchant turns over in his hand a precious jewel.

Sympathy; it was the key to all he desired--woman's sympathy.