PEEPS AT THE KING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

PEEPS AT THE KING.

FRENCHMAN'S PEN-PICTURES OF A ROYAL RAILWAY TRAVELLER. An amusing peep into a Sovereign's life is afforded by M. Jean de Mitty's account, in the Matin, of his trip to Marienbad in the same dining-car as the King of Greece, and the subsequent reception by King Edward. The King of Greece is a great smoker, so much so that in the dining-car his features could be described only through a cloud of tobacco' smoke. Scarcely has he finished one cigar, but M- de Thou (the steward of his Civil List) hands him a case to choose another from. M. de Thou, as paymaster, looks after everything, pays the bills— checking them, pencil in hand— folds them up in his pocket. The head waiter handed the salad, and the King was about to help himself. M. de Thou raised his hand (writes M. de Mitty, j who was dining at the next table), in an attitude of protest, and uttered the word " Sir!" in a tone of expostulation. " Oh! just a little bit," pleaded the King. " No!" replied the inflexible steward, " the doctor has forbidden it. You must listen, to the doctor." " Well, well," sighed the King. The head waiter came round with the coffee and asked: " Chartreuse, fine champagne, Benedictine?" " Fine champagne," said the King. "Sir!" re-exclaimed M. de Thou. "A drop, a wee drop," entreated King George. " No, sir, the doctor won't have it." "Well, well," sighed anew the King, and he cast an envious glance at Major Comnene, w]m was indulging with delight in the forbidden brandy. The King also commented on the Humbert case: "I wonder if they have appealedWhat a wonderful story. That Frederic seems to be a shrewd customer, cleverer than all the rest. He engineered the whole thing, surely. But what innocence to have trotted out that Regnier.' Otherwise, I believe they might have got off cheaply." "Time!" exclaimed M. de Thou. " True," asquieseed the King, " let us go to bed." At Marienbad King Edward was on 'the platform wearing a green cap, a brown overcoat, a pink necktie, grey shoes, white gloves, and kneebreeches—the most extraordinary get up M. de Mitty ever saw.