Part 23 (1/2)
”There again, sir, you do yourself an injustice.”
”Ah, that is easily said. But what does my power amount to when all is done? Perhaps at the cost of constant friction with my ministers I have been able to delay things for a while--given the country more time to make up its mind; but then, unfortunately, it was thinking of other things, and I myself provided the counter attraction. What I was trying to do in one way I was rendering of no effect in another; all that I intended politically has been swamped in ceremony.”
”Your Majesty was never more popular than to-day,” observed the Prime Minister. ”That in itself is a power.”
The King paused to consider; then he said, ”If I am prepared eventually to give way, what time of grace can you allow me?”
”We must have our bill ready for the winter session, sir.”
”Will you allow me till then?”
”If I may know what is in your Majesty's mind.”
”What is in my mind is that the country should know what it is about.
This bill has not yet been seen; by the public nothing is known of it.
Well, that is what I ask: put it before the country, let the terms of it be clearly stated, and if, when we come to the winter session, you are still determined that it must form part of your program, then,”--the King drew himself up and took a breath--”then I will no longer stand in your way.”
The Prime Minister bowed low to conceal his proud sense of triumph.
”I have your Majesty's word for that?”
”To-day is the 27th,” said the King, ”you can claim the fulfilment of that promise in four months' time.”
”And till then?”
”Till then,” said the King slowly, ”this question is not again to come before Council. I hold to my point that its introduction without my express consent was unconst.i.tutional, and to maintain the Const.i.tution I am bound by oath.”
The Prime Minister yielded the point readily, seeing in it the effort of dull obstinacy to score a nominal triumph. ”There is, however, the accompanying condition,” said he, ”necessary for the success of our scheme; and to that I must once more refer. In order to pa.s.s our bill we shall need the consecration of at least fifty new Bishops, nominated by the Government; to that, also, your Majesty has. .h.i.therto been opposed.”
”Oh, you mean the Free Churchmen?” queried the King. ”Ah, yes, and the Archimandrite.”
”In that matter,” replied the Prime Minister, ”I have some reason to believe that the Bishops will eventually give way.”
The King felt himself a little more alone. ”Yes,” he said, ”I daresay they will; I shouldn't wonder at all.”
”Then over that, too, I may look for your Majesty's consent?”
The King repeated his former word. ”I shall not stand in your way,” he said; and again the Prime Minister bowed low.
”I have to thank your Majesty for relieving me of a great difficulty.”
”Oh, no, why should you? You have not persuaded me in the least; you have merely forced me to a certain course, in which I still cannot pretend that I agree.”
”I shall always recognize that your Majesty has acted on the highest motives, both in opposing and in ceasing to oppose.”
”I shall ask you to remember that,” said the King.