"Terrible," agreed the King.
"Don't seem no end to it, like."
"Well, well," said Merriwig, "we shall see."
The barber got to work again.
"Do you know what I should do to the King of Barodia if I had him here?"
Merriwig did not dare to speak, but he indicated with his right eye that he was interested in the conversation.
"I'd shave his whiskers off," said Carlo firmly.
The King gave a sudden jerk, and for the moment there were signs of a battle upon the snow; then the King leant back again, and in another minute or so the operation was over.
"It will soon be all right," said Carlo, mopping at his Majesty's chin. "Your Majesty shouldn't have moved."
"It was my own fault, Carlo; you gave me a sudden idea, that's all."