The King sat and thought for a while, for now it was clear that one way or the other he must make up his mind. All those strings of red tape, which he had meant to tie with such dilatory cunning hung loose in his grasp; to a Cabinet really set on resignation he could not apply them. Just as his hands had seemed full of power they became empty again. He knew that at the present moment no other ministry was possible, and that a general election was more likely to accentuate than to solve his difficulties; and so in sober chagrin he sat and thought, and the Prime Minister (as he noticed) was so sure of his power that he did not even trouble to watch the process of the royal hesitation resolving itself. When after an appreciable time the King spoke he seemed to have arrived nowhere. "This is the fifth time," he said, "that you have offered me resignation: and you know that I am still unable to accept it." The Prime Minister bowed his head; he knew it very well, there was no need for words. "And you know that I am still entirely unconvinced." "For that," said the minister, "I must take blame; since it shows that my advocacy in so strong a case has been very imperfect." "Oh, not at all," said the King. "I think you have shown even more than your accustomed ability." "That is a compliment which--if it may be permitted--I can certainly return to your Majesty." "I have felt very strongly upon this matter," said the King. "We all do, sir--one way or the other. With great questions that is inevitable." "You admit it is a great question?" "I should never have so troubled your Majesty were it a small one." The King's thoughts shifted. "What a pity it is," said he, "that I and my ministers have never been friends." "Have not loyal service and humble duty some claim to be so regarded?" inquired the Prime Minister. But the King let this official veneer of the facts pass unregarded. "It would have helped things," he went on. "As it is, when I differ from my ministers I am all alone. It is in moments of difficulty like this that the head of the State realizes his weakness." "There again, sir, you do yourself an injustice." "Ah, that is easily said. But what does my power amount to when all is done? Perhaps at the cost of constant friction with my ministers I have been able to delay things for a while--given the country more time to make up its mind; but then, unfortunately, it was thinking of other things, and I myself provided the counter attraction. What I was trying to do in one way I was rendering of no effect in another; all that I intended politically has been swamped in ceremony." "Your Majesty was never more popular than to-day," observed the Prime Minister. "That in itself is a power." The King paused to consider; then he said, "If I am prepared eventually to give way, what time of grace can you allow me?" "We must have our bill ready for the winter session, sir." "Will you allow me till then?"