136 THE NEW FOREST 



to visit the King's House was the Emperor, Kaiser 

 William II himself. 



In 1907 he came to reside for a brief period 

 at Highcliffe, near Christchurch, and spent his 

 time in motoring all over the country. I knew 

 that he would be sure to want to see the King's 

 House, but at that time it was a house of 

 mourning, and a black shadow lay across it. 



I took pains, however, to convey to the Kaiser, 

 through Metternich, my hope that he would give 

 me one week's grace before he came, after which 

 time I would be willing and anxious to show him 

 the house, and tell him all that was of interest 

 about it. 



His Imperial Majesty, however, selected to 

 come at a time when I was perforce away. He 

 looked over the house, being shown, of course 

 nothing of interest, and, calling for a sheet of 

 letter paper, wrote for me, as a visiting-card, 

 a large "William I. R.," and a second sheet was 

 covered with the signatures of his distinguished 

 staff. 



But I am bound to say that he afterwards 

 sent me a very kindly worded letter through 

 Count Metternich to the effect that, if he had 

 ascertained that we were away from home, he 

 would not, at such a time, have come to the 

 house at all, though he wished to visit it. It 



