CHAPTER XI

THE KING SPEAKS—A THREAT—A MILITARY AFFAIR—THE
FIRST AFGHAN DRAMA—I AM TURNED OUT

t || 1HE bandsmen, wonderfully caparisoned to-day,

jl had exhausted themselves many times in playing
-**- the National Anthem. There was a pause, as
they wiped beaded brows with the pipe-clayed cuffs
of their jackets. Amanullah moved slowly up the
gardens, accompanied by his Queen, now only half
veiled, but beautiful and natural in her glittering,
enfolding garments. Behind Amanullah came the little
procession of foreign delegates.

Every member of the British Legation wore a top-hat.
Sober and respectable, the representatives of British
Sundays and diplomatic occasions moved after the
Royal party with due dignity. They wore morning
coats and spats. Victorian England was flourishing in
the outposts of civilisation.

Stark, the Russian delegate, ignored such compli-
ments, even in the presence of Royalty. More probably
he had never worn a top-hat. He and his wife moved
self-consciously in the mixed gathering. Following
them came the representatives of France, Italy, Japan,
China, Germany, and Belgium. But never another silk
hat. . • *

The sowars of the Indian Cavalry clattered up the
road after providing the Guard of Honour to Aman-
ullah. The members of his own bodyguard, even more
like a musical comedy chorus to-day, arranged them-
selves round the King. They flung their cloaks elegantly

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