"Must?"
"Must."
"Young man you have no tact. You are not an accomplished villain," said I, pleasantly. "You should begin by asking me how I spent the night, and if there was not something you could do for my material comfort. Perhaps, however, you will first answer a few questions of mine?"
"There are only two men whose questions I answer," he said.
"And who might they be?"
"My commander and the King. I will answer one question—the reason you are here. You are a menace to the tranquility of the State."
"Oh; then I have the honor of being what is called a prisoner of State?
Be careful," I cried, suddenly; "that pistol might go off, and then the
American Minister might ask you in turn some questions, disagreeable
ones, too."
"The American Minister would never know anything about it," said he, gruffly. "But have no fear; I should hesitate to soil an innocent leaden bullet in your carcass."
"Be gentle," I advised, "or when we meet again I shall feel it my duty to dull the lustre of your other eye."
"Pah!" he ejaculated. "We are indebted to the French for the word canaille, which applies to all Americans and Englishmen."