Gervase paled also. "Honestly, Your Honorship, I haven't the slightest inten—"
"You'll make it quick and painless, won't you? And it really would be very decent of you to give me the exact day and hour of my—er—demise so I won't have to sit around waiting."
"But, really—"
"You don't look like a hard-hearted chap. As a matter of fact, I would say, offhand, that you had a kind face."
"Well, thank you, but—"
"I do wish you'd stop shilly-shallying and name the day. By the way, have you anything on for tomorrow?"
"I didn't have anything special planned—"
"Splendid! Suppose you come over to the Palace around one o'clock or so. We can have a bite of lunch and discuss the matter together. After all, I think you'll agree that I have been a reasonably good Ruler and so I have the right to die with dignity." He looked pleadingly at Gervase.
"Oh, absolutely," the young man said in haste. "No question of it. I think it's a very good idea to have a chat about it first. Awkward to—dispose of someone you haven't met previously."