Short Fiction · Chapter
L’Envoi explained
The narrator visits a king who is working in the garden.
What happens
The narrator visits a king who is working in the garden. The king introduces the queen, and they sit down for whisky and soda. He discusses the revolutionary committee's restrictions, praises Plastiras, and reflects on the importance of not being shot. The conversation is pleasant, and the king expresses a desire to go to America.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the doctor’s hollow reassurance—that the narrator will play f…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- The Absurdity of Authority and Religion
The king's casual discussion of political violence and his confinement within the palace grounds highlight the absurdity and fragility of authority.
- American Identity and Disillusionment
The king's desire to go to America reflects a longing for escape and the allure of American identity amid European disillusionment.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“The king was working in the garden. He seemed very glad to see me.”
The king was gardening and appeared happy to meet the narrator.
Establishes the setting and the king's welcoming demeanor.
“Plastiras is a very good man, I believe, but frightfully difficult. I think he did right, though, shooting those chaps. If Kerensky had shot a few men things might have been altogether different.”
The king praises Plastiras as a good but difficult man, and endorses his execution of certain individuals, suggesting that Kerensky's failure to do so led to worse outcomes.
Reveals the king's pragmatic and cynical view on political violence.
“Of course, the great thing in this sort of an affair is not to be shot oneself.”
The king emphasizes that the key to surviving political upheaval is to avoid being killed.
Highlights the king's self-preservation instinct and the absurdity of his position.
“Like all Greeks he wanted to go to America.”
The king, like many Greeks, expressed a desire to emigrate to America.
Connects the king's personal longing to a broader cultural aspiration.
