Fielding,” came the summons and the long walk began. Through the door of the Entree Room they proceeded, then down the length of the Throne Room towards the dais.
John Rawlings’s thoughts flew, thinking that the King looked thoroughly pleasant, a modest fair-complexioned young man with steady, if slightly protruberant, blue eyes and a pleasing smile revealing strong white teeth. His Majesty smiled a lot in fact, and even though John Fielding not see him George seemed very touched by the picture of the great blind man making his way towards him and smiled all the more. The footstool was reached and Joe brought the Magistrate to a halt, then the three men bowed their heads before the two sighted helped the Blind Beak to kneel down.
The time-honoured words of ceremony were spoken, the sword flashed into the air and came down lightly on John Fielding’s shoulders.
“Arise, Sir John,” said the King, and then quite impulsively and most endearingly added, and may God bless you.”
The Apothecary felt tears well in his eyes but knew that to reveal them would be out of the question, instead he took the new knight’s arm and together they made their way back to the Queen Anne room and out into the Long Gallery. Here all formality ceased and Joe flung his arms round the Beak and said in a rather strange, somewhat hoarse voice, “Well, Sir John.”
“Well, indeed,” the Magistrate answered. “Recognition for the Public Office at long last.”
“I think,” said the Apothecary, “that it is more likely recognition for you, Sir.”
Sir John shook his head. “No, it’s for all of us. Everyone - and that includes you, Mr. Rawlings - who has given his time and effort to free our streets from criminals.”
John and Joe blew their noses simultaneously, then laughed, and the emotional moment was over. In fact the atmosphere in the Long Gallery was now that of a jolly rout.
The orchestra was playing for all it was worth, the place was packed with people who had just received honours and were in the highest of spirits. All it needed, thought John, was for champagne to come round on trays and the party would be complete. However, that had to wait till later, when each individual would go home and celebrate with his family.
The Gallery, though very large, was filling with people as more and more recipients came through from the Throne Room. Finally, though, the crush was complete as the guests made their way in, rushing to their relatives and congratulating them. Mary Ann, with two high spots of colour in her cheeks, appeared and jumped on her uncle like a small cat.
“Oh Uncle, Papa, whoever you are, congratulations. I thought you looked mighty. I was so proud.”
He laughed, very delightedly. “Oh you foolish girl. Is the levee over?”
“Yes.”
But before anyone could say another word there was a stirring in the doorway and suddenly the King was there, passing from one end of the Gallery to the other, cutting a swathe through a hastily saluting crowd, heading for the private apartments.
“His Majesty?” asked Sir John.
“Indeed,” said Mary Ann, “and handsome into the bargain. Pity he’s married to such a monkey.”
“Keep you voice down,” hissed the Magistrate.
But nobody had heard her because the major domo had appeared in the far doorway, Digby Turnbull hovering behind. “My lord, ladies and gentlemen, the levee is at an endrlf you would proceed out of this doorway and down the far staircase, then make your way out through the lower corridor. Congratulations to you all.”
The throng was on the move once more, traversing the gallery, making its way along the balcony to start going down the steep staircase.”Greetings, Sir John,” said George Goward, immensely pleased with himself and grinning like a ginger cat.
“Greetings, Sir George. A remarkable day.” The Magistrate turned to Lady Mary. “Did you enjoy the ceremony, Madam?”
She made a sickly moue. “Unfortunately, I am indisposed.
John Rawlings’s thoughts flew, thinking that the King looked thoroughly pleasant, a modest fair-complexioned young man with steady, if slightly protruberant, blue eyes and a pleasing smile revealing strong white teeth. His Majesty smiled a lot in fact, and even though John Fielding not see him George seemed very touched by the picture of the great blind man making his way towards him and smiled all the more. The footstool was reached and Joe brought the Magistrate to a halt, then the three men bowed their heads before the two sighted helped the Blind Beak to kneel down.
The time-honoured words of ceremony were spoken, the sword flashed into the air and came down lightly on John Fielding’s shoulders.
“Arise, Sir John,” said the King, and then quite impulsively and most endearingly added, and may God bless you.”
The Apothecary felt tears well in his eyes but knew that to reveal them would be out of the question, instead he took the new knight’s arm and together they made their way back to the Queen Anne room and out into the Long Gallery. Here all formality ceased and Joe flung his arms round the Beak and said in a rather strange, somewhat hoarse voice, “Well, Sir John.”
“Well, indeed,” the Magistrate answered. “Recognition for the Public Office at long last.”
“I think,” said the Apothecary, “that it is more likely recognition for you, Sir.”
Sir John shook his head. “No, it’s for all of us. Everyone - and that includes you, Mr. Rawlings - who has given his time and effort to free our streets from criminals.”
John and Joe blew their noses simultaneously, then laughed, and the emotional moment was over. In fact the atmosphere in the Long Gallery was now that of a jolly rout.
The orchestra was playing for all it was worth, the place was packed with people who had just received honours and were in the highest of spirits. All it needed, thought John, was for champagne to come round on trays and the party would be complete. However, that had to wait till later, when each individual would go home and celebrate with his family.
The Gallery, though very large, was filling with people as more and more recipients came through from the Throne Room. Finally, though, the crush was complete as the guests made their way in, rushing to their relatives and congratulating them. Mary Ann, with two high spots of colour in her cheeks, appeared and jumped on her uncle like a small cat.
“Oh Uncle, Papa, whoever you are, congratulations. I thought you looked mighty. I was so proud.”
He laughed, very delightedly. “Oh you foolish girl. Is the levee over?”
“Yes.”
But before anyone could say another word there was a stirring in the doorway and suddenly the King was there, passing from one end of the Gallery to the other, cutting a swathe through a hastily saluting crowd, heading for the private apartments.
“His Majesty?” asked Sir John.
“Indeed,” said Mary Ann, “and handsome into the bargain. Pity he’s married to such a monkey.”
“Keep you voice down,” hissed the Magistrate.
But nobody had heard her because the major domo had appeared in the far doorway, Digby Turnbull hovering behind. “My lord, ladies and gentlemen, the levee is at an endrlf you would proceed out of this doorway and down the far staircase, then make your way out through the lower corridor. Congratulations to you all.”
The throng was on the move once more, traversing the gallery, making its way along the balcony to start going down the steep staircase.”Greetings, Sir John,” said George Goward, immensely pleased with himself and grinning like a ginger cat.
“Greetings, Sir George. A remarkable day.” The Magistrate turned to Lady Mary. “Did you enjoy the ceremony, Madam?”
She made a sickly moue. “Unfortunately, I am indisposed.
Similar Books
