"Oh, Sire, quite the contrary, I assure you."
"Well, what do you want?"
Wulf was evidently waiting for this question. He rose from the seat and made a careful inspection of the room, opening each door to see that no one was outside listening. Then he returned to Fandor and whispered:
"I am here on a secret mission, Sire."
"Well, let's hear what it is."
"I am charged with two commissions, one which interests your Majesty, the other the Kingdom. To begin with, I have come to get your reply to the telegram in cipher which his Highness the Minister of the Interior sent your Majesty yesterday."
"The deuce," thought Fandor, "this is getting annoying. What on earth shall I tell him?"
Then with an air of innocence he asked:
"What telegram are you speaking of? I have received none."
"Your Majesty didn't receive it?"