“I thought this was coming it pretty strong,” continued Sam, “but as it was all in my day’s work, I conformed as well as I could to my instructions.  The difficulty was in knowing how to address His Majesty, so I stammered, ‘Dread potentate!’ and seeing it pleased him, ‘Light of the universe,’ I cried, ‘it is morning!  May I rise?’

“‘I perceive,’ said the Shah, ‘you are a genius,’”

“What did you think of his state of mind after that?” I asked.

Sam laughed and answered:  “I thought he was getting better, more rational, and thanked him for his good opinion.  ‘Mighty potentate,’ said I, ’monarch of the universe, I apologize for my mistake, but I was at St. Luke’s yesterday,’

“‘My faithful Luke!’ said he, and clapped his hands.  I knew once more where he was.

“‘The last time,’ said I (thinking I would rather have him the amiable Paul than the savage Shah), ’your Majesty informed me that you were the holy Apostle St. Paul!’

“‘So I am,’ answered the Shah.

“’I am at a loss, your Majesty, I humbly confess, to understand how your immortal Highness can be at one and the same time the blessed Apostle St. Paul and the Shah of Persia,’

“‘Because you are such a damned fool!’ replied His Highness.

“Here was the fierceness of the Shah, but immediately the gentleness of the Apostle restored him to a more amiable mood, and coming towards me with a smile, he said,—­

“‘The explanation, my dear sir, is simple;’ and then, in a quiet, confidential tone, he added:  ’It was the same mother, but two fathers!’”

“I had another experience not long after in the same asylum,” continued Warren.  “One of my patients told me he had married the devil’s daughter when I was asking him about his relations.  ’She was a nice girl enough,’ he said, ’and although my people thought I had married beneath me, I was satisfied with her rank, seeing she was a Prince’s daughter.  We went off on our honeymoon in a chariot of fire which her father lent us for the occasion, and had a comfortable time of it at Monte Carlo, where all the hotels are under her father’s special patronage.’

“‘I hope,’ said I, ‘your marriage was a happy one.’

“‘Yes,’ said he with a sigh, ’but we don’t get on well with the old folks!’”

* * * * *

No writer was ever more solicitous of fame than Sam Warren.  It was a proud moment whenever there was the remotest allusion to his authorship, and I always loved to compliment him on his books.

In the famous case of Lord St. Leonards’s will, which had been lost, I supported the lost will, and proved its contents from the evidence of Miss Sugden and others.

Sam Warren had been in the habit of visiting Lord St. Leonards at Boyle Farm, Ditton.  He gave evidence as to what Lord St. Leonards had told him respecting his intentions as to the disposal of his property.