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7, AUDLEY SQUARE, W.l.

DICTATED

never provoked more than a smile amongst the assembled millions, but
were the gentleman to appear in the Coronation procession he would be
greeted by resounding cheers and laughter from the beginning to the end
of the ceremonial route. The gentleman in question was alleged to be the
masseur of a Balkan monarch, who had been comforting his sovereign in
the barouche which carried them both to Westminster Hall. The man was
turned out there, was pushed into the procession, and ultimately ended
in St. George's at Windsor, wearing a squash black hat, an ordinary
little black double-breasted jacket, beneath which a shirt, apparently
escaping from his trousers, descended to just above the knees. He was
also wearing white flannel trousers. You will acknowledge a figure
pour rire: but, as I say, the mob treated him with respect and condolence .
In point of fact, the little fellow is a Rumanian V.C., who
performed every kind of feat of gallantry during the War: and even if
it takes me twelve months of intrigue, I am determined that he shall
be received with enthusiasm by the Coronation crowd. I wonder if
Literature, Science & Art could be a bit better represented at the
Coronation than they were at the Funeral of King George.

We are now thinking of the future, and of H. M' s entourage.
He is anxious to make the minimum changes in his own methods and circumstances.
There will be rows of empty palaces. It is surprising that
he should be surprised to find how great is the gulf between E. R. E.
and H. M. - for instance, that his speeches will become those of a Con[stitutional]