itself, the only legitimate source; and such an one
I hoped to win; and in the course of years of honest
and honorable endeavor, I did win it and did wear
it with a high and clean pride. This title fell cas-
ually from the lips of a blacksmith, one day, in a
village, was caught up as a happy thought and
tossed from mouth to mouth with a laugh and an
affirmative vote; in ten days it had swept the king-
dom, and was become as familiar as the king's name.
I was never known by any other designation after-
ward, whether in the nation's talk or in grave debate
upon matters of state at the council-board of the
sovereign. This title, translated into modern speech,
would be THE BOSS. Elected by the nation. That
suited me. And it was a pretty high title. There
were very few THE'S, and I was one of them. If
you spoke of the duke, or the earl, or the bishop,
how could anybody tell which one you meant?
But if you spoke of The King or The Queen or The
Boss, it was different.

Well, I liked the king, and as king I respected
him--respected the office; at least respected it as
much as I was capable of respecting any unearned
supremacy; but as men I looked down upon him
and his nobles--privately. And he and they liked
me, and respected my office; but as an animal,
without birth or sham title, they looked down upon
me--and were not particularly private about it,
either. I didn't charge for my opinion about them,
and they didn't charge for their opinion about me:
the account was square, the books balanced, every-
body was satisfied.

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