And then his formal duties called him away. This was their first exchange of compliments. Old Uncle Nostrum, who had kept within ear-shot, reported to the King that things had gone sufficiently well. There was no secrecy about the intended affair in the royal circle now; everybody knew of it. And that evening, at a State ball given in the Prince's honor, the destined pair met again. Nothing very much happened at the ball. The Prince danced once with Charlotte and once with the Queen, and with nobody else; while Charlotte danced nearly the whole evening; and Max, moving about with a pensive and preoccupied air, danced with nobody. But the only reason why this ball has to be mentioned is because of something that happened immediately after, quite unconnected either with the about-to-be-linked or the about-to-be-separated lovers--something which takes us back to those underground workings of the body politic which his Majesty was only now beginning fully to apprehend. State balls end punctually, and as it were upon the stroke; as soon as the royal countenance is withdrawn they come to an end. And so within half-an-hour of the retirement of the royal party all the great suite of chambers was empty, and in less than an hour light and movement had ceased in all that part of the palace wherein the royal family resided. But the King, hindered during the day by constant attendance upon his guest, had some papers to look through before his next meeting with the Prime Minister. He went into his study, switched on the light, and for an hour sat at work. Outside traffic died away; the sense of silence grew deep; the whole palace became permeated by it. Wearying for bed, having got through his last batch of papers, the King looked at the clock; it was half-past one. Just as he was getting up from his seat the mere ghost of a sound caught his ear. The door, silent on its hinges, had softly opened; and within its frame stood a figure in dark civil uniform who gave the military salute. II "Mr. Inspector!" cried the King in surprise, recognizing the face. "I beg your Majesty's pardon." "Ah! You came to see that everything was safe? This time you were a little too early. Still, as you are here, I should rather like to know how far those keys do allow you to penetrate?" "Everywhere, your Majesty." "You mean, even to the private apartments?" Apparently he did. "Do you often have occasion to use them?" "Not after to-night, your Majesty--never again." "Oh, do not suppose that I am objecting, if it is really necessary." "I give these keys up to-morrow, sir," said the man. "I ought to have given them up to-day; but I wanted to see your Majesty." The King drew himself up; this seemed an intrusion. "You could have asked for an interview," he said. "I could have asked to the day of my death, sir; you would never have heard of it." "You could have written."