"Amen, Courtney, old man," said I, "Amen!"
Then I sprang away and into saddle--waving my hand to him as he came
hastily to the door to stay me.
XII
LEARNING MY TRADE
The next month was the busiest of my life--not excepting those at the
Point. I was learning to be Royal, and I was starting a generation and
a half behind time. My hardest task was in meeting the Nobility. I
had been bred a soldier and had despised the politician--secretly,
however, as is necessary for the Army officer in America; but no rural
candidate at a Fall election ever worked harder to ingratiate himself
with the people and to secure their votes, than did I to win favor with
the Lords and high officers of State. And, with it all, I could feel
no assurance of success--for they were courtiers, and I had not yet
learned to read behind their masks; though, here, Bernheim was
invaluable. Indeed, he was a wonder. I have yet to find him miss his
guess.
There were constant Cabinet meetings to attend, at which my views were
expected; and this entailed a study of conditions and policies
absolutely new to me. Then, I was delegated frequently by the King to
represent him on occasions of ceremony; and, for them, I needed careful
coaching.
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