r could see
no one he knocked down the ushers, swept aside the orderlies, trampled
under foot the civil and military clerks, burst through the doors, and
entered the room of the astonished Greatauk.

"I will not say much," said he to him, "but I will speak to the point.
You are a confounded cad. I have asked you to put a flea in the ear of
General Mouchin, the tool of those Republicans, and you would not do it.
I have asked you to give a command to General des Clapiers, who works
for the Dracophils, and who has obliged me personally, and you would not
do it. I have asked you to dismiss General Tandem, the commander of Port
Alca, who robbed me of fifty louis at cards, and who had me handcuffed
when I was brought before the High Court as Emiral Chatillon's
accomplice. You would not do it. I asked you for the hay and bran
stores. You would not give them. I asked you to send me on a secret
mission to Porpoisia. You refused. And not satisfied with these repeated
refusals you have designated me to your Government colleagues as a
dangerous person, who ought to be watched, and it is owing to you that
I have been shadowed by the police. You old traitor! I ask nothing more
from you and I have but one word to say to you: Clear out; you have
bothered us too long. Besides, we will force the vile Republic to
replace you by one of our own party. You know that I am a man of my
word. If in twenty-four hours you have not handed in your resignation I
will publish the Maloury dossier in the newspapers."

But Greatauk calmly and serenely replied:

"Be quiet, you fool. I am just having a Jew transported. I am handing
over Pyrot to justice as guilty of having stolen eighty thousand trusses
of hay."

Prince Boscenos, whose anger vanished like a dream, smiled.

"Is that true?"

"You will see."

"My congratulations, Greatauk. But as one always needs to take
precautions with you I shall immediately publish the good news. People
will read this evening about Pyrot's arrest in every newspaper in
Alca . . . ."

And he went away muttering:

"That Pyrot! I suspected he would come to a bad end."

A moment later General Panther appeared before Greatauk.

"Sir," said he, "I have just examined the business of the eighty
thousand trusses of hay. There is no evidence against Pyrot."

"Let it be found," answered Greatauk. "Justice requires it. Have Pyrot
arrested at once."

II. PYROT

All Penguinia heard with horror of Pyrot's crime;