"Ah, sire!" said Mrs. Russell, languishingly. "Oh, Your Gracious Majesty! Ah, what shall I say?"
She had taken it all to herself, and in the most open way; while Katie didn't take it at all. "His Majesty" saw this, and determined to be more direct.
"Well," said he, "ye see—"
But at this moment a wild yell sounded forth from without, with sudden and appalling fury. It burst upon their ears, from the stillness of midnight, with terrific violence, chilling the very blood in their veins. Then came the rush of heavy feet, the clatter of swords, the explosion of firearms, the shouts of many voices:
"Hurrah for the Republic!"
"Down with the Carlists!"
Mrs. Russell gave a long, piercing yell, which drowned every other sound, and flung herself into "His Majesty's" arms.
"His Majesty" tore himself away.
"What's that?" he cried. "It's an insurrection av the populace, so it is. We'll so off an' mate thim."
With these words he rushed out of the room.