Publisher's Synopsis
Having obtained an audience of the King an Ingenious Patriot pulled a paper fromhis pocket, saying: "May it please your Majesty, I have here a formula for constructing armour-platingwhich no gun can pierce. If these plates are adopted in the Royal Navy our warshipswill be invulnerable, and therefore invincible. Here, also, are reports of yourMajesty's Ministers, attesting the value of the invention. I will part with my right init for a million tumtums."After examining the papers, the King put them away and promised him an order onthe Lord High Treasurer of the Extortion Department for a million tumtums."And here," said the Ingenious Patriot, pulling another paper from another pocket,"are the working plans of a gun that I have invented, which will pierce that armour.Your Majesty's Royal Brother, the Emperor of Bang, is anxious to purchase it, butloyalty to your Majesty's throne and person constrains me to offer it first to yourMajesty. The price is one million tumtums."Having received the promise of another check, he thrust his hand into still anotherpocket, remarking: "The price of the irresistible gun would have been much greater, your Majesty, butfor the fact that its missiles can be so effectively averted by my peculiar method oftreating the armour plates with a new-"The King signed to the Great Head Factotum to approach."Search this man," he said, "and report how many pockets he has.""Forty-three, Sire," said the Great Head Factotum, completing the scrutiny."May it please your Majesty," cried the Ingenious Patriot, in terror, "one of themcontains tobacco.""Hold him up by the ankles and shake him," said the King; "then give him a check forforty-two million tumtums and put him to death. Let a decree issue declaringingenuity a capital offence
