“‘I know we do,’ ses the King, ‘and that’s why we incur the displeasure of others. But as we are beginning to get involved and going back to where we started like those who discuss, but can’t understand theology, or like the bird who flies away in the morning, only to return to its nest at the fall of night, I think we had better finish, now that we have ended, so to speak, and bid each other good-by.’
“‘Surely,’ ses Matty, ‘’tisn’t the way that you would let me out of doors a cold day like this, without a bit of a topcoat to shelter me from the cold and wind, and I with a touch of the influenza already?’
“‘Well,’ ses the King, ‘I have had enough of your company, and when we get tired of those who have either entertained, helped, or distracted us, we usually find a way of getting rid of them. The greatest mistake in life is to be too kind to any one. When a woman is getting tired of her husband, everything he does to please her only causes her annoyance. But nevertheless, if she has any sense at all, she can’t but respect him for wasting his affection on one not worthy of it.’
“‘But what about the topcoat?’ ses Matty.
“‘You’ll get it,’ ses the King. ‘What’s the loss of a topcoat, even though it might be a gift itself, compared to getting rid of a troublesome companion? Besides, a man who has made up his mind to commit suicide must be very careful of himself, lest a toothache, a bad attack of neuralgia, or the ‘fluenza might cause him to change his mind. Many a man changed his mind for less.’
“So with those few words the King presented Matty with a new overcoat, and walked with him as far as the garden gate at the end of the Castle grounds, and then he ses, the same as they always say in America, ‘Good-by, and call again some time.’ But he did not say when.”
“That seems to be a polite way of telling a person to go to the devil,” said Micus.
“’Tis,” said Padna, “but we might as well be polite when we can. And sincerity, unless ’tis accompanied by wisdom and discretion, does more harm than good.”
“The world has suffered as much from sincere fools as it has from wise scoundrels,” said Micus. “But what did Matty do when he took his leave of the King of Spain?”
“After that,” said Padna, “he set sail for Persia, and called upon His Majesty the Gaekwar.”