“You can send to His Majesty,” said I quietly. “That will be the simplest way.”
He looked at me steadily, and his manner changed.
“You wish to see His Majesty, then, at once?” he asked.
“What I wish is to go to my rooms first, and see His Majesty afterwards. Nothing unreasonable in that, is there?”
“Unreasonable, no, monsieur, and yet, perhaps, unusual. But I will see what I can do. I will send and make inquiries.”
He had returned to his former polite deferential air.
“So long as you are quick, I don’t care what you do,” said I.
“This is very trying to me. I am deeply sorry. But perhaps you are used to these needs for caution in other countries;” and he went on in this style until a servant entered.
“Send Gravok to me,” he said, and accompanied the order with a significant nod.
I wondered what was coming; but was not long left in doubt, for half a minute later a sergeant and three soldiers entered, two of whom placed themselves instantly one on each side of me.