"Yes," said I, and laughed.
"Ah!" she cried, shaking her fist at me, and herself laughing. Then she leaned over toward me and whispered, "You shall retract that."
Wetter looked up and saw her whispering to me, and laughing as she whispered. He frowned, and I saw his hand tremble on the table. Though I laughed and fenced with her and defied her, I was myself in some excitement. I seemed to be playing a match; and I had confidence in my game.
Wetter spoke abruptly in a harsh but carefully restrained voice.
"It is not for me to question the King's account of himself," he said, "but so far as I am concerned your question did me a wrong. Openly I come here, openly I leave here. All know why I come, and what I desire in coming. I ask nothing better than to declare it before all the city."
She rose and made him a curtsey, then she gave a slight yawn and observed:
"So now we know just where we are."
"The King has defined his position with great accuracy," said Wetter with an open sneer.
"Yes? What is it?" she asked.
"His own words are enough; mine could add no clearness—and—"