"Come on!" he bawled.
"Sir!" cried Mr. Harrison, in a failing voice.
"Come on directly minute!" shouted the Emperor, as the small and rounded form of the Empress joined him, gazing through the field-glasses at the agitated menial. "Come on, or you'll repent of it to the last hour of your mortal life, you will!"
"Oh, by all means, most certainly—oh, most decidedly yes!" faltered Mr. Harrison, wavering very slowly around the pond in the direction of the cottage. "Oh, indeed—rely—on——"
"Make haste!" yelled the Emperor in a voice of thunder.
"Oh, you wicked, ungrateful man!" squeaked the Empress. "Oh, to think that it should come to this!"
Mr. Harrison was now upon the gravel path before the cottage and between it and the pond. He stood still again.
"Come in this moment!" said the Emperor fiercely.
But Mr. Harrison did not obey this behest. Terror rooted him to the spot. He shook his head despairingly some dozen times or more.
"Come in!" reiterated the Emperor. "Do you dare to defy me?"