words to his father.  ‘You’ve heard about it; haven’t you?’ whispered Miles.  Lord Alfred, remembering his sister’s question, became almost pale, but declared that he had heard nothing.  ’They’re saying all manner of things in the City;—­forgery and heaven knows what.  The Lord Mayor is not coming.’  Lord Alfred made no reply.  It was the philosophy of his life that misfortunes when they came should be allowed to settle themselves.  But he was unhappy.

The grand arrivals were fairly punctual, and the very grand people all came.  The unfortunate Emperor,—­we must consider a man to be unfortunate who is compelled to go through such work as this,—­with impassible and awful dignity, was marshalled into the room on the ground...