THE SIGNATURE OF THE KING 149 



" ' I am always at home when I am not out.' I under- 

 stood his meaning." 



Audubon then astonished the minister by saying: 



" I wish to have an interview with the king." 



" The king? " 



" Yes, with his Majesty himself. I wish to introduce 

 to him my plates." 



Mr. Gallatin's face lighted up with wonder. 



The audacity of the plan must have seemed comical 

 indeed. He said, and we here quote nearly Audubon's own 

 words : 



" "What a simple man you must be to believe what is 

 said to you about being introduced to his Majesty! It is 

 impossible, my dear sir — impossible. The king sees no- 

 body." 



This was a hammer-stroke; but, as if to make the nail 

 fast and sure, he added: 



" He has the gout." 

 And as if that were not sufficient to silence the Amer- 

 ican woodman forever: 



" He is peevish, and spends his time playing whist at a 

 shilling a " 



This seemed to shut all doors, and the minister extraor- 

 dinary proceeded to illustrate the hopelessness of such en- 

 deavor by stating his own experience: 



" I myself had to wait six weeks before I was presented 

 to him in my position as ambassador, and then I merely 



