" The Frolic and the Gentle " 



Out on the blue, the next morn- 

 ing, what a transformation ! As I 

 have said, it was in fact King's first 

 opportunity to visit Europe, strictly 

 off duty, and with means that seemed 

 to him beyond the dreams of avarice. 

 He broke out into a thousand pranks 

 and paradoxes. Freedom was what 

 we both needed, and my own reserve 

 was at an end the moment I saw him 

 changed from the dignitary to a ver- 

 itable Prince Florizel with the tray 

 of tarts, offering lollipops right and 

 left. He and his comrade, I was 

 speedily made to know, had " struck 

 it rich " in a mine and were indepen- 

 dent for life. His motto for one 

 summer at least was "Vive la baga- 

 telle." His frolic was incessant and 

 contagious. Here was my overnight 

 philosopher with double-eagles in his 

 pocket, one of which he periodically 

 tiipped in the air to decide wagers 

 made upon every possible pretext 

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