"Wicked, wicked man!" cried the Empress.
"Let me explain, sir! Oh, indeed, I will explain!" murmured Mr. Harrison, trying to gain time.
"Coward!" said the Emperor, with scathing bitterness. "You know I can't come out to get at you! You know I've given my word to the fiddle-faced feller. Coward!"
"Cowardy custard!" added the Empress with feminine force, and a manner of the keenest vituperation.
But Mr. Harrison was turned into cast-iron by fear.
"I will not come in, sir, to be skinned—no, I will not! by no means, on no account whatever," he explained. "No, I will not, if I stays here till the Doomsday—no, indeed!"
This intrepid reply evidently took the Emperor aback. He hesitated and held a whispered parley with his consort. Then he cried:
"You'd better come in!" with ferocity.
"Oh no, sir—no, indeed, not at all! I will not, indeed, you may depend upon me! Rely on me, I will not!" said Mr. Harrison with brazen timidity.
The Emperor again consulted with his helpmeet, who evidently urged a compromise, for he finally said: