“What — you?”

“Yes — certainly. Stop gabbling. Call the palace.”

He made the call.

“Now, then, call Clarence.”

“Clarence who ?”

“Never mind Clarence who.

Say you want Clarence; you’ll get an answer.”

He did so. We waited five nerve-straining minutes — ten minutes — how long it did seem! — and then came a click that was as familiar to me as a human voice; for Clarence had been my own pupil.

“Now, my lad, vacate! They would have known my touch, maybe, and so your call was surest; but I’m