A few eyebrows went up; what revival of old forms was this? The functionary advanced and with a low bow presented the document not to the Prime Minister, but to the Lord President of the Council. "By his Majesty's gracious command," said he, "a message from his Majesty the King to his faithful people." Then, with another bow, the Court functionary withdrew. The Lord President looked at the seal in some embarrassment, for he did not quite know how to break it; it was very large, some three inches across, and was composed of a wax of specially resistant quality. "Cut it!" said the Prime Minister, and to that end he presented his pocket-knife. The document was opened; and the Lord President and Prime Minister, glancing together at its contents, suddenly went white. "Gentlemen," said the Lord President (his voice and hands trembled as he spoke), "his Majesty the King abdicates!" II Around that ministerial board it would have been amusing to an impartial onlooker to see how many mouths of grave and reverend Councilors did actually open and drop chins of dismay. A gust of horror and astonishment blew round the assembly; it was a word unknown in the Jingalese Constitution; no place had been there provided for it,--it had never been done. Strictly speaking--legally speaking, that is to say--it could not be done. Kings had been deposed, exiled, their heads cut off--all without their own consent--but never without the consent of Parliament, or of some portion of it at all events. Yet nothing whatever could prevent it; for clearly on this point the King could insist; but, if he did, the Constitution would be in the melting-pot, and the consequences could not be foreseen. What right had this pelican in piety to go pecking his own breast and shedding the blood of his ancestors? Viewed in any constitutional light it was a revolutionary and bloody deed. The Prime Minister was not slow to see its bearing on the whole political situation and on the fortunes of his ministry. "Gentlemen," said he, "if this abdication is allowed to take effect, our plans are defeated and the Government must go." "You mean we shall have to resign?" "We cannot even do that; we are forestalled. Though not yet publicly announced this is an absolute abdication here and now." And then that all might hear, the Lord President proceeded to read out the terms.