CHAPTER ONE

'I blame the teabag for the collapse of civilisation,' said the King, watching the butler drop a sachet into a teapot. Above his head, the Day Crown, a coronet set on a bowler hat, swayed gently on a golden pole held by a bewigged footman, while outside, in the intense summer heat engulfing London and all the Union, dark-suited armed men sweltered unattributably on His Majesty's behalf.

'Ah,' said the Prime Minister, distracted by a song on the gramophone: 'Don't know why, There's no sun up in the sky, Stormy weather ...'