550
PARTISAN REVIEW
silence of the walls, grew more and more powerful. The candles
flickered . The Chancellor steadfastly presided over the silence. The
hours passed .
What was the reason for the silence? None of the men could ad–
mit or even think the thought that, on the one hand, was
unavoidable and occurred to everyone with irresistible power and ,
on the other hand, had become nothing less than a crime of lese–
majeste. Therefore they were silent. How could one admit, how
could one say that the King ... that the King was .. . oh, no ,
never, never ever, it would be better to die first .. . that the
King .. . oh no , ah, no, oh no . .. that the King was corrupt! The
King was a swindler! The King was selling himself! In his
audacious, sordid, insatiable greed, the King was as corrupt a traitor
as history had ever known. The King was a bribe-taker and a
traitor! The King was selling his own majesty for nickels and dimes!
Suddenly the heavily carved portals of the hall opened and
King Gnulo appeared in the uniform of a general of the Guard, with
a sword at his side and in a large cocked hat. The ministers bowed
low to the ruler, who, watching them slyly with his piercing eyes,
threw his sword on the table and himself in an armchair and crossed
his legs.
By the power of the King's presence, the Council of Ministers
was transformed into a Royal Council, and the Royal Council pro–
ceeded to hear out the King's declaration. In his declaration, the
King above all professed his joy that his wedding with the Arch–
duchess was coming to pass and he expressed his unshakeable faith
and hope that his Royal Person would succeed in attaining the love
of this daughter of kings. Nevertheless, he emphasized the burden of
responsibility weighing on his shoulders. And there was something
so excessively corrupt in the voice of the King that the Council shud–
dered in its absolute silence.
"We cannot conceal," the King pronounced, "that participa–
tion in tomorrow's banquet means hard work for us . .. . After all,
we will have to exert ourselves a great deal so that the Archduchess
will bring back an advantageous impression . . . . Nonetheless we
are prepared to do anything for the good of the Crown, especially
if. . . if . . . hm . . . hm. . . . "
The royal fingers drummed significantly on the table, and his
declaration became increasingly more confidential. There could no
longer be any doubt . Nothing less than that this bribe-taker in a
crown was demanding a bribe for his participation in the banquet.
