This person wore a coat with tails a yard long, enormous
boots, a battered hat, and a red wig. A close observer would have
doubted whether his nose was real or artificial. The strangely-garbed
intruder bowed grotesquely.
"What do you want with me?" asked the General-President, sharply. "Do
you not know I am busy?"
"Not too busy to see me," retorted the unwelcome guest, striking up a
lively tune upon a banjo which he had concealed about his person while
passing the Palace Guard, but which he now produced. "I pray you step
with me a measure."
Thus courteously invited, His Highness could but comply, and for some
ten minutes host and guest indulged in a breakdown.
"And now, what do you want with me?" asked the General-President when
the dance had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
"My reward," was the prompt reply.
"Reward!" echoed His Highness. "Why, my good friend, I have refused
a Royal Duke, an Imperial Prince, a Powerful Order, and any number of
individuals, who have made a like demand."
"Ah! but they did not do so much for you as I did."
"Well, I don't know," returned the General-President, "but they parted
with their gold pretty freely."
"Gold!" retorted the visitor, contemptuously, "I gave you more
than gold.
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