The Chancellor.

Thirteen, Sire!

The King.

True, but thirteen is an unlucky number! That is why I suppressed one!

The Queen.

And the thirteenth wasn’t a nice person at all! Not at all! Besides we had only a dozen extra spoons and forks!

The King.

But all the same, this Dame Envy-Hatred-Malice-and-All-Uncharitableness got wind of the affair and came uninvited!

The Chancellor.

Oh, if you had only let me manage it!