"But, if I may ask without presumption, what brings him here ?" Nell looked at the pair of us, the King and Simon Dale, and answered coolly, "My invitation." "The answer is all sufficient," bowed the King.

"I'm before my time then, for I received a like honour." "No, he's after his," said she.

"But as you heard, Sir, I was urging him to go." "Not on my account, I pray," said the King politely.
"No, on his.

He's not easy here." "Yet he outstayed his time!" "We had a matter of business together, Sir.

He came to ask something of me, but matters did not prove to be as he thought." "Indeed you must tell me more, or should have told me less.