"Belligerently yours,
Luma the Illustrious,
Prime Dictator and High Potentate of Wu."
This letter was, of course, duly written on the official stationery in the handwriting of the court scribe, and was in the common language used by both Wu and Zu. But underneath the formal message, to which I affixed my signature with a flourish, I added the following words in English:
"For God's sake, Phil, is it you? If so, let's get together! Frank."
Knowing that these words would convey no meaning unless the new Dictator of Zu were my old friend, I hurriedly delivered the letter to a messenger who, carrying the pink badge of neutrality, was allowed to travel through enemy territory unmolested.
Within a few hours, Rah the Righteous would have the communication; hence it was with the utmost impatience that I waited. Meanwhile copies of my message were sent to the Blare and the Screamer, which printed it conspicuously, with laudatory comments on my "firmness" and "courage" in dealing with Zu.
Before the "wake" was over, the reply was in my hands:
"To His Abysmal Excellency
Luma the Illustrious Dictator of Wu
"Whereas I have just received your missive, and have read it with astonishment at your effrontery, I refuse unqualifiedly to accept any of your terms, and demand that you, for your own good, cede the whole of Nullnull to us.
"Defiantly yours,
Rah the Righteous,
Dictator Supreme and Sovereign Commander of Zu."
It was with an amused smile that I read the above message. But what a leap my heart gave, how I paused in startled delight and almost cried out for joy at a little postscript, scribbled in English, in a well-known handwriting: