And who, for shady walks, will give him praise
For wealth thus spent, when gained in shady ways?
In short, what can he hope from this affair?
Save to connect his name with one thing Square!
It was this same public-spirited though erratic “plunger” in stocks and shares who, in February, 1875, widened, at his own cost, the road leading to Kensington House, so as to avoid the curve which was dangerous to carriages when driving in. It was an approach that Queen Victoria frequently used.
CHAPTER XXX
King of Siam’s visit—The Shahzada’s clothing—King of Burmah’s war elephant—Tale of two monkeys.
The King of Siam and the Shahzada of Afghanistan are linked in my memory because of the peculiar interest King Chulalongkorn took in the Afghan Prince, whose model appeared in all the splendour of one of the Shahzada’s own State dresses.