"I'm one," said Smith, coolly, "among other things."
And we all started hastily for the house.
XVIII
THE GANGSTERS
The Tsar of all the Bulgars, wearing a green and yellow wrapper, and bright blue slippers over his enormous flat feet, exhibited considerable nervousness as we entered the house.
"I wasn't doing anything," he said; "I trust that nobody will misunderstand me. Heaven is my witness——"
"What's the matter?" asked Smith tersely.
"The Princess Pudelstoff is screaming. I don't know why; I didn't go near her——"
We hurried up stairs. The door of the Princess' room was open, the light burning. The Princess sat up in bed, tears rolling down her gross, fat face, screaming at the top of her voice; while beside her, in Phrygian night-cap and pajamas, stood King Constantine.
He had her by the elbow and was jerking her arm and shouting at her: "Shut your fool head! Stop it! There's nothing the matter with you. You've been dreaming!"