Tower he asked what had brought him on
the yacht so early. Mr. Tower explained he had brought me over to
register, and that Mr. Carnegie was on board. He asked:
"Why not present him now? I wish to see him."
I was talking to the admirals who were assembling for a conference,
and did not see Mr. Tower and the Emperor approaching from behind. A
touch on my shoulder and I turned around.
"Mr. Carnegie, the Emperor."
It was a moment before I realized that the Emperor was before me. I
raised both hands, and exclaimed:
"This has happened just as I could have wished, with no ceremony, and
the Man of Destiny dropped from the clouds."
Then I continued: "Your Majesty, I have traveled two nights to accept
your generous invitation, and never did so before to meet a crowned
head."
Then the Emperor, smiling--and such a captivating smile:
"Oh! yes, yes, I have read your books. You do not like kings."
"No, Your Majesty, I do not like kings, but I do like a man behind a
king when I find him."
"Ah! there is one king you like, I know, a Scottish king, Robert the
Bruce. He was my hero in my youth. I was brought up on him."
"Yes, Your Majesty, so was I, and he lies buried in Dunfermline Abbey,
in my native town. When a boy, I used to walk often around the
towering square monument on the Abbey--one word on each block in big
stone letters 'King Robert the Bruce'--with all the fervor of a
Catholic counting his beads.
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