The circumstance did not greatly impress him at the time, he was ready to make allowances, for between him and his minister the situation was somewhat embarrassing. They had parted with unreconciled views, and by no stretch of terms could their relationship any longer be regarded as friendly. All the same, on such an occasion it was incumbent upon the Prime Minister to say the correct thing, and he had said it: he had described the outrage as "a dastardly attempt," and the immunity of his sovereign as "a happy and almost miraculous escape" for which none had more reason to be thankful than himself and his colleagues; he had also said that the passionate attachment of the people of Jingalo to the person of their ruler had now been made abundantly evident, and he trusted might ever so continue. Later in the day, when the short ceremony of Parliament's closing was over (for it was impossible under the circumstances to return to stiff formality, no one being in the mood for it), later in the day, he again presented himself, and besought a private audience. And then--while once more repeating what he had said previously, almost in the same words,--he showed that he had something very serious of which to deliver himself. He began with a great parade of leaving the matter to the King's decision only; his duty was merely to state the case as it would strike the world. "We are in your Majesty's hands," he said, "and I have no wish to revive a discussion in which your Majesty has by right the last word. I have only to ask whether the circumstances of the last few hours have in any way affected your Majesty's decision." As usual this formal insistence upon his "majesty" aroused the King's distrust; with his ministers in privacy he always disliked it. But all he said was: "Why should it?" The Prime Minister pursed his lips and elaborately paused, as though finding it difficult to express himself. Then he said-- "After an attempted assassination so nearly successful, abdication would have a different effect to what your Majesty presumably intended." "How?" inquired the King. But though he asked he already knew; and mentally his jaw dropped, as a new apparition of failure rose up and confronted him. "It might seem to reflect upon your Majesty's personal courage: about which, I need hardly say, I myself have no doubt whatever." "I see," said the King. His voice sounded the depression which had again begun to overwhelm him. "I have no wish to press your Majesty," the Premier went on; "but at the present moment we are still under orders that to-morrow the definite and irrevocable announcement is to be made public." Again he paused; and the King did not answer him. "I wish to ask, therefore, whether it is your Majesty's wish that the announcement of the abdication shall be postponed?" "Yes," said the King, and his words came slow, "I suppose that it must be--as you say--postponed." "Does your Majesty wish to suggest any later date?"