The professor replied that he did mean it, and went on to tell how the unexpected result had been accomplished. Before he had fairly finished, the king, clad in his robes of state and accompanied by a dozen members of his household, could be seen approaching across the square.
Attendants followed the royal party, bearing basins of food, a chair on which his majesty could repose himself and a canopy to shield his august person from the reflected rays of the sun.
"The first thing you do, Quinn," said Meigs, while the royal party was making itself comfortable, "tell the king I've got to have my clothes."
"Have patience, Mr. Meigs," answered the professor.
"Patience?" spluttered Meigs. "Merciful powers, man! How can I be patient and cut such a figure as this?"
"Attend his majesty!" came from a word-box among the king's suite. "Our gracious sovereign is about to speak."
Our close attention being secured, the king remarked:
"Now that these colossi have been spared they will need food. See that it is given them."
This command was very satisfactory to me, for I was little short of famished. Presently our paddles were flying over the basins, and we were breaking our fast in a way that made the king open his eyes.
The lord of the exchequer—a most important officer of state—drew near his majesty and said that if the kingdom was going to board us for any length of time it would behoove them to till all the crown lands and get every available acre into produce.