“I confess that I do not see the point—”
“Then you cannot know, I suppose, that it was against me that his offence was directed”.
Hogarth's left lid lowered....
“But my complaint is of the present: are you not aware of the scandal which the Mahomet is now creating in the world?”
“Scandal?”
“Thrice lately whispers have reached me of unnameable iniquities perpetrated there—Alexandria of the sixth century, Rome of the second! I believe the rumour is widely spread in London—no woman of the world now lands on the Mahomet”.
“It was you whom he assaulted...” Hogarth laughed and was pale at once.
“Yes, but observe that I must go now, my friend. I have spoken of the things which I had in my mind: there remains—my father”.
“He shall go with you”.
“I thank you, my Lord King; that must be in an hour: so I say, Richard, good-bye”.