sat the king and his court: the king on a throne hollowed out of a
huge block of green copper ore, and his court upon lower seats
around it. The king had been making them a speech, and the
applause which followed it was what Curdie had heard. One of the
court was now addressing the multitude. What he heard him say was
to the following effect: 'Hence it appears that two plans have been
for some time together working in the strong head of His Majesty
for the deliverance of his people. Regardless of the fact that we
were the first possessors of the regions they now inhabit;
regardless equally of the fact that we abandoned that region from
the loftiest motives; regardless also of the self-evident fact that
we excel them so far in mental ability as they excel us in stature,
they look upon us as a degraded race and make a mockery of all our
finer feelings. But, the time has almost arrived when - thanks to
His Majesty's inventive genius - it will be in our power to take a
thorough revenge upon them once for all, in respect of their
unfriendly behaviour.'

'May it please Your Majesty -' cried a voice close by the door,
which Curdie recognized as that of the goblin he had followed.

'Who is he that interrupts the Chancellor?' cried another from near
the throne.
'Glump,' answered several voices.

'He is our trusty subject,' said the king himself, in a slow and
stately voice: 'let him come forward and speak.'

A lane was parted through the crowd, and Glump, having ascended the
platform and bowed to the king, spoke as follows: