"I did not intend that you should, Señor Dasso. Put up your weapon, Mozara, the guards are within call."
A moment's silence, then Dasso spoke.
"Your Majesty's appearance is timely. The people will be calling for you. They will want to greet the new king."
Armand smiled.
"Perhaps you will lend me the notes of your own speech for the occasion, Dasso; I am rather unprepared. Besides, I do not act for myself, I act for the Queen."
"The Queen?"
"I said 'the Queen,' Señor Dasso. To-night's blunder is not the only one you have made—you made one fifteen years ago when you did your hellish work in this palace."
"You have taken service early, prince, under the banner of this adventuress, this——"
"Señor Dasso," Armand was speaking quietly, "the Queen has ordered that there shall be no bloodshed here to-night. You are forgetting yourself." He called, and four of the royal guard came from a passage behind him.
"Show these gentlemen out. Dasso, I have no royal rank now, and can call you to account for this—by the bye," he added, as the guard closed round the discomfited men, "there will be a special edition of the Imparcial to-morrow morning. It will interest you."