EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

statesmen. The story, at any rate, went round political
circles in London, and redounded to the credit of the
beautiful Queen from far away.

The most trying period for the excited Amanullah was
over with his departure from Buckingham Palace to
Claridge's Hotel, where, in their honour, and at the
command of the British Foreign Office, the Royal Suite
on the first floor had been redecorated.

The ready imagination of Londoners, aided by
various picturesque newspaper stories, had a field-day.
Many and varied were the tales told of the happenings
in the dining-rooms and the private rooms of Claridge's
Hotel. In any case, Amanullah was behaving himself
in an exemplary manner. He was not the universal
jester that he was portrayed by his chroniclers, though
his sense of humour certainly rode uppermost during
these formal and exciting days.

Formality did not come easily to him. He had not
been accustomed to an excess of polite occasions and the
starched etiquette of diplomatic life. Much was expected
of him, and he lived up to his promise to behave himself
in the best Western manner, as befitted his new glory
of Western clothes, in which he took an inordinate
delight.

But he tired of the magnificent bedroom which had
been allocated to him in the hotel, and took a fancy to a
small single bedroom overlooking a courtyard. The
Royal Suite was not for a man of the hills. He preferred
solitude, for during these days he had much to think over,
and much to treasure for future reference when he
returned to his country.

He was a favourite among the staff. He treated them
in the friendliest fashion, and provided a strong contrast
to the sometimes dull example set by former occupants
of those rooms on previous Royal visits.

Ill