The king broke it, as he leaned against a balustrade of the great basin, to speak about a carp.

Nobody made any answer.

He afterwards addressed his remarks about these carp to some builder's-men who did not keep up the conversation in the regular way; it was but a question of carp with them.

Everything was at a low ebb, and the king went away some little time after.

As soon as we dared look at one another out of his sight, our eyes meeting told all." There was no venturing beyond looks.