There was a murmur of respectful enthusiasm. Gourdolis smiled a very evil smile.
“Not yet,” he murmured, “but the end is not far off.”
Baron Doxis rose up.
“Your Majesty,” he announced, “our answer is unanimous. We have been misled by Baron Domiloff, both as to the nature of Monsieur Gourdolis’s mission and the attitude of the Duke of Reist. We reject his terms. We decline once and for all to treat with him. We trust to God and to you to keep the enemy from our gates.”
The King smiled upon them.
“I thank you all,” he said, “for your confidence. Let me add that I believe the day will come when you will be heartily thankful that you gave this man the answer he deserved. The importance of our victory yesterday has, I find, been wilfully minimized in the city, but I can assure you that with only a very trifling loss we withstood an attack on the part of the whole Turkish forces. I have, however, better news than that for you. The greatest nation in the world would seem to have espoused our cause. Yesterday afternoon the English Ambassador at Constantinople presented an ultimatum to the Sultan, demanding the withdrawal of his forces from the frontier of Theos. The Press throughout Europe have announced the fact this morning.”
Baron Doxis rose hurriedly to his feet.
“Your Majesty,” he exclaimed, in broken tones, “permit me, on the part of your Councillors and myself, to express our unbounded confidence both in your military skill and in your diplomacy. Theos has found a second Rudolph.”
The King smiled faintly.