And one of the Others came later and picked it up, to hang on the nail; only she forgot—and a good job too.
22
Then after tea Tiny stole out, and round the corner, and into the Castle by the back-door, to spy out the Commander-in-Chief, and the surprise he was getting ready for the Regiment.
And he crept along the passage and shoved the green-baize door, and peeped into the hall.
And there by the fire sat the King with his crown cocked over his eyes sound-asleep in the rocking-chair after the market; while the Queen churned in the dairy.
And in the darkest corner, under a shaded candle, sat the Commander-in-Chief with his hump up and his head down and wrote a letter very secretly.
And as Tiny looked, he sealed it with a black seal, and said with a snigger,
"Because of Goliath."
Then he rang for the Queen, and gave it her, saying,
"Important—Private—Secret. For Cooey in the morning."