While Felicitas was relating his extraordinary account of the conduct of their astronomer and the subsequent treatment he had received from her friends, Stonesack’s countenance was a study to behold. At first he appeared profoundly astonished; this gave way to so many varying emotions that it was impossible to say what was going on in his mind, or guess what opinion he had formed of the affair. However, he listened very gravely to the story, in which the Emperor’s powers of imagination had been considerably called upon. And when the minister was pressed for an answer as to the best method of dealing with the delinquents, he hesitated considerably, coughed; looked very red; blew his nose, and finished by saying he didn’t know.
‘At all events,’ urged the Emperor, ‘this revolutionary Sadbag, ought to be indicted for wickedly conspiring to undermine my reputation, and thereby bring me into my people’s disfavour.’
‘What about thy two astronomers, does thy Majesty desire to include them in the indictment?’
‘Certainly,’ replied the Emperor, ‘did not Mistress Mercia threaten my life with her ebony life-preserver, and hath not Geometrus taken her part?’
‘Hath thy Majesty fully considered the merits of the case, that it be a sound one; otherwise it had better not be gone into publicly at all. Would it not be far wiser to administer correction to these foolish persons by requiring them to make an apology for their ill-behaviour?’
‘That they will never do, I am assured! Their looks and language betrayed their evil designs towards me. Get a warrant sent quickly, and put them in prison without delay—even now they may be working me infinite mischief.’
‘It will come to a trial in that case. What will the nation say? Will the people take thy word in preference to that of Mercia?’
‘I care not what the people think! I know my own mind: I promised those seditious ones what to expect, and they shall not be disappointed,’ returned the Emperor hotly.
‘As thy Majesty wills it: the warrant shall be made out and served to-morrow. It cannot be done more quickly. In the meantime thy Majesty will have opportunity to sleep upon thy purpose, and if thy mind be changed by morning send a message to that effect, I will keep in readiness for it.’
‘Count not upon that! There is no other way of dealing with those wretched conspirators,’ replied Felicitas moodily.