# XXII: The Lord Chamberlain explained — The Princess and Curdie

> Chapter companion for The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The Lord Chamberlain attempts to coerce the king into signing a document without reading it, but the king, revived by the bread and wine, refuses. The princess reads to the king, who improves. Curdie and Lina continue their secret watch, securing food for the king and princess. Curdie discovers gold in the rock of the palace passage, planning to use it to enrich the king. The servants grow suspicious, but Curdie devises a plan to rid the palace of them.

## Themes in this chapter

### Corruption of Power

The lord chamberlain and doctor conspire to manipulate the king for their own ends.

### Faith and Trust

The king's growing suspicion and refusal to sign without understanding reflects a lack of trust in his officials.

## Character check-ins

### Curdie

Continues his secret mission, securing food and planning to purge the palace. Discovers gold in the rock.

### Lina

Assists Curdie, guarding the recess and scaring off a terrier.

### Princess Irene

Reads to the king, delighted by his improved state.

### The Doctor

Pledged to weaken the king's brain, but his fidelity is doubted by the lord chamberlain.

### The Servants

Suspicious and quarrelsome, they search for missing food but find nothing.

## Key lines

> He was a lean, long, yellow man, with a small head, bald over the top, and tufted at the back and about the ears.

The lord chamberlain was tall and thin, with a yellowish complexion, a mostly bald head with hair only at the sides and back.

_Describes the physical appearance of the lord chamberlain._

> The princess was in high delight. She had not for weeks heard so many words, not to say words of such strength and reason, from her father’s lips.

Princess Irene was overjoyed because her father had spoken more and with more sense than he had in weeks.

_Highlights the king's improvement and Irene's happiness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxii-the-lord-chamberlain
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters