The king laughed jovially.
“Work?” he inquired. “At what, in heaven’s name?”
“Something honest,” replied Prince Ernest.
The king laughed and nudged the emperor in his imperial ribs.
“Ah, youth!” said the king. “Ah, youth! By the way, Ernie, how much did you spend last year?”
“Oh, I don’t know exactly,” replied the prince, mystified. “The Royal Bursar of the Most Privy Purse could no doubt tell you. Probably between three hundred and four hundred thousand goobecs, I fancy.”
“And how many motor cars did you have?” questioned the king.
“Eleven, if you don’t count roadsters.”
“Fair enough,” said the king. “We won’t count roadsters. Now, Ernie, suppose you were a young lawyer——”
“I wish I were,” said the prince.