Solomon or Shebaf 



torture should be confined to so few victims. It 

 might more properly have been Inquisitorial. 

 With mechanical precision, it would have wrung 

 a fuU confession and extorted a complete return 

 to faith. 



When, however, we had formed our Royal 

 Household, we began to have our speculations. 

 It was not that we were troubled over the suc- 

 cession. Why worry over scions when the 

 dynasty established was likely to outlast our 

 time? But the proprieties! They set us think- 

 ing! With a retinue so scarce, we were hard- 

 pressed to fill aU offices and allotted the appoint- 

 ments as the need arose. And was it altogether 

 fitting — we could not help wondering — ^that at 

 twilight my mother should convey a sleepy 

 monarch up to bed? Should she, Lady-in- Wait- 

 ing, be the first to answer to all morning calls? 

 Once a week, moreover, she took her station on the 

 lawn, a small green watering pot her insignia of 

 office. Efficiently she wielded it — still who knew 

 how decorously? — as Mistress of the Bath. My 

 brother had avoided all such menial duties. He 

 insisted on his rights as Chamberlain, High Chan- 



[115] 



