"If I may know what is in your Majesty's mind." "What is in my mind is that the country should know what it is about. This bill has not yet been seen; by the public nothing is known of it. Well, that is what I ask: put it before the country, let the terms of it be clearly stated, and if, when we come to the winter session, you are still determined that it must form part of your program, then,"--the King drew himself up and took a breath--"then I will no longer stand in your way." The Prime Minister bowed low to conceal his proud sense of triumph. "I have your Majesty's word for that?" "To-day is the 27th," said the King, "you can claim the fulfilment of that promise in four months' time." "And till then?" "Till then," said the King slowly, "this question is not again to come before Council. I hold to my point that its introduction without my express consent was unconstitutional, and to maintain the Constitution I am bound by oath." The Prime Minister yielded the point readily, seeing in it the effort of dull obstinacy to score a nominal triumph. "There is, however, the accompanying condition," said he, "necessary for the success of our scheme; and to that I must once more refer. In order to pass our bill we shall need the consecration of at least fifty new Bishops, nominated by the Government; to that, also, your Majesty has hitherto been opposed." "Oh, you mean the Free Churchmen?" queried the King. "Ah, yes, and the Archimandrite." "In that matter," replied the Prime Minister, "I have some reason to believe that the Bishops will eventually give way." The King felt himself a little more alone. "Yes," he said, "I daresay they will; I shouldn't wonder at all." "Then over that, too, I may look for your Majesty's consent?" The King repeated his former word. "I shall not stand in your way," he said; and again the Prime Minister bowed low. "I have to thank your Majesty for relieving me of a great difficulty." "Oh, no, why should you? You have not persuaded me in the least; you have merely forced me to a certain course, in which I still cannot pretend that I agree." "I shall always recognize that your Majesty has acted on the highest motives, both in opposing and in ceasing to oppose." "I shall ask you to remember that," said the King. "There shall never be any misunderstanding on my part," replied the minister; and applying a palm to the hand graciously extended as though its mere touch had power to heal, he took his leave, and the fateful audience was over. For a long time after, the King stood looking at the door out of which he had gone. "I think there has been a misunderstanding, though," he said to himself, with a slow, faint smile, "and I don't think it is mine----" He paused. "Perhaps, though, I had better write down exactly what I said." And going to his desk he made there and then a careful memorandum of his words.