HewasparticularlyfondofAnnieColborn，whosefatherwasamagistrateandagoldcommissioner，andapersonofverygreatimportance。WhetherornotKingBillywaswiseinhisgeneration，andoutoftheunwrittenScripturesofthesomberbushhadculledamaximinculcatingthewisdomofmakingfriendsofthesonsofMammon，I
cannotsay，buthewasalwaysgoodtoAnnie。Formyownpart，Idonotbelievethesimple-heartedoldkinghadanysuchnotioninsidehisthickantipodeanskull。Hewasgoodbecausehewasnotbad，whichistheverybestmoralityafterall，andagreatadvanceonmuchwehearof。And，besides，hewassometimeshungry，andMr。Colborn’sChinesecookwasveryhaughty，andnottobeapproachedexceptthroughanintermediary。AndwhosocapableofconciliatingWongasAnnie？Wongwouldmakehercakesevenwhenhispigtailhungdespondentlyfromhisachingheadafteranopiumdebauch，andhischeekswereshiningwithanythingbutgladness;forifyougetdrunkveryoftenonopiumyoushine。
OldBillywasmostlytobefoundwheretherewasachanceofadrink;
butifthefountainsweredriedup，orhehadbeeninsultedbysomedemocratic，revolutionary，king-hatingminerknockinghishighhatdownoverhiseyes，heusuallywentuptoMr。Colborn’splace，andsatonthefence，oronalogoutsidethegate。SohewasoftenverymelancholywhenAnniecameout。Onedayhishatwasvery，verybadlybulgedindeed。
\"Yourhatisverybadto-day，KingBilly，\"saidsix-year-oldAnnie，asshestoodinfrontofhimcritically，withherheadononeside。