Jawkins entered, bowing low. It was the first time he had ever met his Majesty face to face. As he slowly approached the throne his knees bent at their hinges, until with the last step they touched the floor with a heavy thud (Jawkins was a portly little man) as he kissed the royal hand that was kindly extended. When he rose, which was with considerable difficulty, he backed slowly away. As he saw no chair and did not dare to turn around, there was nothing for it but to continue backing; which he did, until he brought up with a crash against a large photograph of Niagara that was hanging on the wall of the chamber. Here he stood looking at the King, but hardly within speaking distance. "Mr. Jawkins, I believe?" "Sir, yes," said Jawkins, who did not like to say "Yes, sir," as being too colloquial. "We have often heard of you, Jawkins, and favorably," the monarch went on. "I understand that several of our poorer gentlemen are indebted to your exertions for their--ahem--pocket money." Jawkins smiled. "Well, sir, I flatter myself I have been the discoverer of retiring talent to some extent. But the money obligation is mutual, sir--mutual." And Jawkins so far forgot himself as to slap his pockets. "Dear me," said George the Fifth, "dear me. You must be very rich. Is--is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Jawkins?" Jawkins's manner suddenly changed, and he became again the serious man of affairs. "Yes, your Majesty--there is something I wish to--to suggest--merely suggest to your Majesty." The King was silent, and Jawkins wiped his bald head with a handkerchief. His small head, ordinarily of the shape and color of a ripe cherry, took a still deeper red as he stammered for words with which to proceed. Finally he spoke; humbly, in a manner almost servile, but fixed and cool. "I have--to beg your Majesty--to consider--the propriety--of keeping Mrs. Oswald Carey at court." The King stared stonily at Jawkins, who cowered close to the wall, but went on. "After what happened at Aldershot?" "Aldershot!" Jawkins saw that he had arrested the King's attention, and went on, hurriedly. "The day was lost at Aldershot almost without a blow. It was because the enemy were prepared on all sides. They had known of the planned rising for days. They were armed and ready at all points. All the disaffected regiments were marched away, and with them many of the officers who were in the plot. The whole force of the government was at or around Aldershot that day. The fleet was in the river. Worst of all, the secret of the conspiracy was carefully circulated among all the officers on whom they could rely, with instructions to prepare their men, even to sound them in advance. And it was Mrs. Carey herself who carried the information to the government." "Impossible." The King made as if to rise.