Awakening, I find myself seated at the little table near the window. Both my hands are ink-spotted. So is my night-dress.
I see, I have written an account of the battle. I must have done so some time after I returned from the field. It's well, for at the moment, I don't remember a thing.
The palace clock strikes seven.
CHAPTER LXVI
ABANDONED
My titled servants withdraw from me—An old footman my sole support—Queen takes the children—Old Andrew plays spy for me.
Afternoon.
No one has come to see me. My household, my adjutants, marshal, chamberlains, equerries, the ladies of my entourage are on duty, but since I ordered my meals brought to the room, they pretend to assume that I'm too ill to see anyone. There may be no truth in the saying that rats leave the ship destined to sink, but the titled vermin royalty surrounds itself with certainly knows when to avoid dangerous craft.