"For that moment, Herr, I thank you."
"And for that in the garden below?"
"For that also. Now, why are you here? You have not come for the purpose of recalling these two disagreeable incidents to my mind."
"No." Carmichael went over to the table, his jaws set and no kindly spirit in his eyes. "No, I have another purpose." He bent over the table, and with his face close to that of the king, "I demand to know what your intentions are toward that friendless goose-girl."
"And what is that to you?" said the king, the smoke of anger in his eyes.
"It is this much: if you have acted toward her otherwise than honorably—Well!"
"Go on; you interest me!"
"Well, I promise to break every bone in your kingly body. In this room it is man to man; I recognize no king, only the physical being."
The king pushed aside the table, furious. No living being had ever spoken to him like that before. He swung the flat of his hand toward Carmichael's face. The latter caught the hand by the wrist and bore down upon it. The king was no weakling. There was a struggle, and Carmichael found himself well occupied for a time. But his age and build were in his favor, and presently he jammed the king to the wall and pinioned his arms.
"There! Will you be patient for a moment?"