Blithers, accompanied by a guide who
created history for them with commendable glibness and some veracity,
and pointed out the homes of great personages as well as the
churches, monuments and museums. He also told them in a confidential
undertone that the Prince was expected to marry a beautiful American
girl and that the people were enchanted with the prospect! That sly
bit of information realised ten dollars for him at the end of the
trip, aside from his customary fee.
The first shock to the placidity of Mr. Blithers came with the brief
note in reply to his request for an informal conference. The Lord
Chamberlain curtly informed him that the Cabinet would be in session
at two and would be pleased to grant him an audience of half an hour,
depending on his promptness in appearing.
Mr. Blithers was not accustomed to being granted audiences. He had
got into the habit of having them thrust upon him. It irritated him
tremendously to have any one measure time for him. Why, even the
President of the United States, the Senate, or the District Attorney
in New York couldn't do _that_ for him.
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