18 APRIL 1969, Page 9

Court cards

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS

The King last summer just saved his place By winning the trick when he played the ace; And seeing de Gaulle had saved his bacon Because of the pains that his Minister'd taken Most Frenchmen thought that upon the whole For Pompidou's sake they would keep de Gaulle.

But when the ace has been discarded The public verdict is crabbed and guarded, For it is known as a certain thing An ace can always outtrump a king. And men are beginning to wonder whether If they can't any longer haw: both together, Of the ace and the King between rht. two They might do better with Pompidou.