The professor nodded to me and I shook out the banner and held it aloft.
"My royal friend," said Gaddbai, "should have been more particular in choosing the subjects he sends to visit my realm. The sleeping colossus, in the ring with you raided my storehouse, and you sought to save him from capture. For that lawless act death has been decreed to all three of you, and the sentence must be carried out."
"But we were ignorant of the law," pleaded the professor.
"Ignorance of the law is no excuse."
"The gentleman in the red kirtle is a friend of ours——"
"If we know a person by the company he keeps, that speaks ill for you," interrupted the sovereign.
"You are determined to have us slain, your majesty?"
"It is my royal will."
"Then I shall have to set forces at work to combat the royal will," said the professor calmly.
Cries of consternation and anger went up on every hand. The king rose wrathfully from his seat.