Bish. Yet there are means!
Holmes. Poison, for instance.
Weth. Or a razor.
Cum. (with a fiendish laugh). Ay, a razor, if nothing better serve.”
With such open condemnation as this from any paper, even though it were one which from its very name existed to draw attention to irregularities and unpopular people, there was nothing for the Duke to do but to dissociate himself from all suspicious connections. Whether he was a most horribly libelled man or whether he had been intriguing as affirmed, it is a matter of history that in March, 1836, he in the name of the Orange Lodges signified his submission to the Royal will that those Lodges should be dissolved.
Like all the Guelphs, the Duke was curiously outspoken. For instance, he would take into his confidence someone near his person and tell how he longed to be King, adding that he was much more fit to be King than his brother, who might be a good sailor, but who was kingly neither in looks nor manners.
The writer of a delightful book of gossip, published some years ago, entitled “Tales of my Father,” gives a very definite form to this absorbing ambition. The Duke and William IV. were dining alone together at Windsor, the Queen being ill, and the suite dining in an adjoining room. The sound of loud voices reached those without, for both brothers had drunk too much; then the Duke ordered the doors to be opened and proposed “The King’s Health. God save the King!” at which the suite dutifully entered and drank. Then the Duke asked permission to propose another toast.
“Name it, your Grace,” answered the King.
“The King’s heir, and God bless him!” proudly responded the Duke.
These audacious words were followed by a dead silence, the two brothers staring at each other, after which William rose, held his glass high, and cried, “The King’s heir! God bless her!” Then throwing the glass over his shoulder, he turned to his brother and exclaimed, “My crown came with a lass, and my crown will go to a lass.”