"For what?" queried the Duke.
"For doing your duty, my liege. Not that that is a novelty, for, as a matter of fact, you are always doing it."
"I am pleased to hear you say so," observed His Highness; "as I was under the impression that I had rather shirked my engagements."
"Not at all, Sir—not at all. If you consult your memory, you will find you carried out to-day's programme to the letter."
"Had I not to lay a foundation stone, or something, this morning?"
"Assuredly; and you touched a cord as you were getting up, and immediately the machinery was set in motion, and the stone was duly laid. Much better than driving miles to have to stand in a drafty marquee."
"And had I not to open an exhibition?"
"Why, yes. And you opened it in due course. Your equerry represented you and ground out your speech from the portable phonograph."
"Well, really, that was very ingenious," remarked His Highness. "But was I not missed?"