At daybreak Jikki stuck his head into the room and said:
“Hadn’t I better—”
“No!” they all shouted in a breath.
“Very well,” returned Jikki; “I was only going to ask if I hadn’t better get you some breakfast.”
“Yes!” they cried, again in one breath.
“And shall I toll the bell?”
“No!” they screamed; and the lord high steward threw an inkstand that hit the door several seconds after Jikki had closed it and disappeared.
While they were at breakfast they again discussed their future action in the choice of a king; and finally the chief counselor had a thought that caused him to start so suddenly that he nearly choked.
“The book!” he gasped, staring at his brother counselors in a rather wild manner.
“What book?” asked the lord high general.