With the Serbs in Macedonia

THE SIMPLE LIFE 225
that. He deigned to smile, to take a cigarette
and a match ; and grandly and gravely he
puffed at it while negotiations proceeded.
It was very hot, but he wore a short fur coat,
very greasy, to denote his rank. The Serbians
paid him five francs a day to keep order for
them and see that the requisite labour for road-
making was found when required. He dealt in
eggs as if they w^re kingdoms. A massiveframed
corpulent inan, with flat features and
bright eyes, his air was too regal even for a
Prussian princeling.
We made our — treaty to say struck our
bargain would be too absurd.
He accepted another cigarette.
Every day twenty-five eggs would be waiting
for us, price twopence each.
We shook hands and parted.
For three days the eggs were there. Then there
were only ten. Blandly unconcerned His
Majesty took another cigarette —and the price
was twopence-halfpenny.
For three days again the eggs were there.
Then there were only five. This time His
Majesty did not get another cigarette, and the
price did not rise to threepence. I was dallying
no more with kings. Some courier had, no
doubt, informed him that eggs were fivepence
in Salonica !