And what WAS it he had seen ? He racked his brains to remember , but he could not call to mind a single thing ! How curious everything looked too ! Why , his own city , which by now he was entering , seemed changed and strange to him ! The sun was already up when he turned into the palace gate and entered the public durbar hall . It was full ; a chamberlain came across and asked him why he sat unbidden in the king 's presence . ` But I am the king ! ' he cried . ` What king ? ' said the chamberlain . ` The true king of this country , ' said he indignantly . Then the chamberlain went away , and spoke to the king who sat on the throne , and the old king heard words like ` mad , ' ` age , ' ` compassion . ' Then the king on the throne called him to come forward , and , as he went , he caught sight of himself reflected in the polished steel shield of the bodyguard , and started back in horror ! He was old , decrepit , dirty , and ragged ! His long white beard and locks were unkempt , and straggled all over his chest and shoulders . Only one sign of royalty remained to him , and that was the signet ring upon his right hand . He dragged it off with shaking fingers and held it up to the king . ` Tell me who I am , ' he cried ; ` there is my signet , who once sat where you sit -- even yesterday ! ' The king looked at him compassionately , and examined the signet with curiosity . Then he commanded , and they brought out dusty records and archives of the kingdom , and old coins of previous reigns , and compared them faithfully .
At last the king turned XXXXX the old man , and said : ` Old man , such a king as this whose signet thou hast , reigned seven hundred years ago ; but he is said to have disappeared , none know whither ; where got you the ring ? '
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