King William IV did not often summon officials at St. James's Palace, especially at the break of dawn. Most days, this Sailor King had not yet sobered up by this time. However, today was different. Perhaps at this moment, the newspaper boys on the streets of London had just started selling The Times, but King William IV had already been waiting in his office for quite some time.
Arthur followed the solemn-looking chief attendant to the door. Just as he was about to reach out and knock, the door opened from within.
Visible from inside the door was the King's private secretary, Sir Herbert Taylor.
"Come in, Sir Arthur."
Taylor's voice sounded somewhat fatigued, as if he had been busy all night or was burdened with some weighty concern.
Yet King William IV, warming himself by the fireplace, was the exact opposite of his old secretary. The ruler of Britain still wore his characteristic ruddy wine-flushed face, but today he looked quite spirited, even exuberant.
