It was several minutes before his attendants could fan him back to life and his thoughts could find expression.
"What!" he howled through the megaphone, after being restored to himself. "What is that you suggest? You impudent rat! Do you have the daring, the effrontery to ask that I—that I step down—"
Choked by the fury of his own words, he was unable to continue.
An uneasy glance at the mirrors showed me that the guards were still creeping up from behind, while my followers made way before them like sheep. I did not care for the looks of their long gleaming pikes, nor did I like the fascinated glances which the spectators were fastening upon the pike-bearers, as if awaiting some interesting exhibition.
Therefore I realized that I must lose no time. "Your Abysmal Excellency," I pleaded, hastily, "you have caught my idea. For the good of your country and the restoration of ventilation, it is time that you step down, and that I step up—"
By now the Dictator had regained his breath sufficiently to interrupt me by bellowing through the megaphone. "So, you insolent hound! Now we have your terms, have we? You would displace me on the throne! You would displace me—me Thuno Flâtum, the High Chief Potentate of Wu! Seize him, guards! Seize him!"
Before I had time to leap aside, I felt heavy arms about my shoulders and found myself pinned in the iron grip of three guardsmen.
Though ready to collapse once more with the effort of so much speaking, Thuno Flâtum was able to bawl once more.
"Take him away! Away! At once! Waste no time! I'll sign the death warrant!"