In chapter 19 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck and Jim rescue two men who are running away from angry mobs. Both men are obvious rogues and vagabonds, but each reveals a sensational secret. The younger of the two says that he is an English aristocrat, the rightful Duke of Bridgewater. The older then trumps this with the revelation that he is the dauphin, son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and therefore the exiled King of France.

It does not take Huck long to reject these preposterous tales as pure fantasy. After all, these two men are essentially professional tricksters and are used to constructing elaborate lies to fool simple people. However, Huck, while not stupid, is tolerant. He sees that the Duke and the King are "just low-down humbugs and frauds" but does not give any sign that he knows this and does not discuss the matter with Jim, either. As far as he is concerned, people are welcome to pretend to be whoever or whatever they want: all he wants is a quiet life. As their journey proceeds, however, the Duke and the King become more troublesome, and Huck, again because all he wants is a peaceful existence, becomes eager to get away from them.