Later in the day, the Princess requested him to attend her in the library; and there, without many preliminaries, he began, under her supervision, to transcribe the contents of numerous musty documents in English, and to translate those of others that were written in French and Latin. He worked for only a couple of hours; and then the Princess, bidding him lay aside his pen, sat and talked to him about London, about politics, and about books. In the evening he played chess and smoked with Mr M‘Dum; and after the toddy had been done full justice to, he retired, well satisfied, to his own snug rooms on the second floor of the ancient keep. Thus did he spend his time for a week and more, until one afternoon the Princess fell to talking about the sad fate of her family. ‘The principle of divine right,’ she said, ‘cannot be altered by popular clamour. It is a reality. She who at present sits upon the throne of these kingdoms is no more the Queen than you are. Excellent woman though she is, she is but the representative of usurpers. True kings cannot be made by vulgar acclamation, neither can wrong become right by lapse of time. But the blood of our race has been tainted. Our royal brother of sacred memory—though, to be sure, he never recognised his exalted position—married a commoner; and how can I expect that the child of that union should be worthy of his splendid ancestry? Ah, that child! What possibilities are his, if only he had the energy to seize them! But he cares nothing. He is content to live obscure. He will not accept his destiny.’ ‘Nay!’ suggested Tom; ‘perhaps he lives obscure because he is poor. Perhaps he is too proud to let it be known that he who exists upon a miserable two hundred and fifty pounds a year is the king of Great Britain. Your Royal Highness must not be unjust.’ ‘Would that what you say were true!’ ejaculated the Princess. ‘But if he only made some sign of his desire to win his own, heaven knows that I would aid him with my fortune, and even, if need were, with my life.’ ‘Your Royal Highness’s sentiments are worthy of her great lineage,’ said Tom courteously. ‘I happen to know that the facts are as I have hinted; for, although I have not yet mentioned it, I have the honour of your Royal Highness’s august nephew’s acquaintance. Indeed, I may say the king deigns to honour me with his friendship.’ ‘The king!’ exclaimed the Princess, with beaming eyes—‘the king! You have heard His Majesty speak, have seen His Majesty walk, and you have not told me! Oh, Mr Checkstone, I cannot tell you how it rejoices me to have one of the king’s friends in my service!—What is His Majesty’s will? What are His Majesty’s plans? You may trust me. I am devoted wholly and entirely to his interests. How I have longed to learn of his intention to take his rightful position!’