Aurelle told then the story of M. Lucas and of the King's visit.
"What's that, Messiou?" said General Bramble. "You've seen our King? Does he look well?"
"Very well indeed, sir."
"Good old George!" muttered the general tenderly. "Yes, he looked quite well when he came here. Tell us that story of the cook over again, Messiou; it's a jolly good story."
Aurelle complied, and when he had done, he bent over towards Colonel Parker and asked him why the general spoke of the King like an affectionate nurse.
"The King," said the colonel, "is much more to us than you might imagine. To the general, who is an Etonian, he is
a kind of neighbour. To Dundas, he's the colonel of his regiment. To the padre, he's the head of the Church. To an old Tory like me, he's the living embodiment of England's traditions and prejudices, and the pledge of her loyalty to them in the future. As for the paternal tone, that's because for half a century the King was a Queen. Loyalism became an attitude of protective chivalry; nothing could have consolidated the dynasty more firmly. Royalty is beloved not only by the aristocracy but by all classes. It's a great asset to a people without imagination like ours to be able to see in one man the embodiment of the nation."
"Messiou," interposed the general, "didn't they give you an M.V.O. for your services?"
"What is that, sir—a new ribbon?"
"My God!" exclaimed Dundas, much scandalized. "You've never heard of the Victorian Order?"