You will say he plays the fool, pelting his servants with inkpots when he is wrath, as God knows he has often cause to be, and scaring his bishops with sham Satans, as after all why should he not since it is a dull world?
You'll say, too, that he takes his teaching from his ministers, and signs what these lay before him with small search as to the truth or falsity.

Well, that's the lot of monarchs who have but one man's brain and one man's time; who needs must trust their slaves until these become their masters, and there is naught left," here his face grew fierce, "save to kill them, and find more and worse.

New servants, new wives," and he glanced at Jane, who was not listening, "new friends, false, false, all three of them, new foes, and at the last old Death to round it off.

Such has been the lot of kings from David down, and such I think it shall always be." He paused a while, brooding heavily, then looked up and went on, "I know not why I should speak thus to a chit like you, except it be, that young though you are, you also have known trouble and the feel of a sick heart.

Well, well, I have heard more of you and your affairs than you might think, and I forget nothing--that's my gift.