"WE, John, by the Grace of God, King of Jingalo, Suzerain of Rome, Leader of the Forlorn Hope, and Crowned Head of Jerusalem, do hereby solemnly declare, avow, render, and deliver by this as Our own act, freely undertaken and accomplished for the good, welfare, comfort, and succor of the Realm of Jingalo and of its People, that now and from this day henceforward. WE do utterly renounce, relinquish, and abjure all claim to rank, titles, honors, emoluments, and privileges holden by US in virtue of OUR inheritance and succession as true and rightful Sovereign Lord of the said Realm of Jingalo. And for the satisfying of OUR Royal Conscience and the better safety and security of those things aforetime committed to OUR trust and keeping, under the Constitution of the said Realm of Jingalo; to the preservation whereof WE are bound by oath, therefore WE do now pronounce, publish, and set forth, that it may be known to all, this OUR ABDICATION, made in the 25th year of OUR reign and given under OUR hand and signet----" Then came date and signature; and following these the old form of mixed German and Latin, without which no State document was complete--"Der Rex das vult." When the reading ended there was a short pause. Here at all events, in their very ears, history was being incredibly made. "Remarkably well drawn," observed Professor Teller, admiringly: "copied, you may be interested to learn, from the actual instrument wrung by Parliament out of King Oliver the Second under threat of torture four hundred years ago. As legal and regular a form, therefore, as it would be possible to devise." "You mean we shall have to recognize it?" "If we recognize anything at all." "Gentlemen," said the Prime Minister, "it must not be recognized; it would mean for us not merely defeat but disaster. As against the Bishops we have a certain amount of popular opinion to back us; but if once it appears that dislike for our policy has driven the King into abdication, then our ruin will be immediate and irremediable. We have to recognize that during the past year his popularity has greatly increased, while our own, to say the most, is stationary." "Yes, and he knows it!" said the Minister of the Interior, bitterly. "I call it a treacherous and a cowardly act!" exclaimed the Secretary for War. "He is trying to bully us!" said the Commissioner-General. "I should say that he is succeeding," remarked Professor Teller in a dry tone. "Had we not better recognize, gentlemen, that his Majesty has made a very shrewd hit? Can we not--compromise?" "Impossible!" asseverated the Prime Minister. "It is too late." Professor Teller leaned back in his chair and let the discussion flow on. His attitude was noticeable; he was the only minister who was taking it sitting down. "When does this abdication take effect?" asked one. "I mean, how long can it be kept from the press?" "Who knows? If his Majesty has done one mad thing he may have done another."