At this point the door opened and the King entered, accompanied by General von Bilderbaum. The General's face was scarlet, contrasting effectively with his snowy hair and moustache and the immaculate whiteness of his uniform. His manner,--like that of his wife,--was strongly agitated, and it was evident that the civic tumult had roused his fighting spirit to a point dangerously near apoplexy. The King, in contrast, looked grey and sad, but his face brightened a little as the ladies rose at his entrance. "Things seem to be quieting down a little in the Domkircheplatz," he said. "I have been talking to my Prefect Kummer on the telephone, and he thinks the square will be empty in half an hour." "I am glad," said Mrs. Saunders simply. "I am very glad," echoed Saunders; "I feel some responsibility in the matter. It was I who induced Trafford to come to Weidenbruck. The fellow was in trouble, and I wanted to show him sport; but I did not want him to find his sport at the expense of my host." Karl laid a kindly hand on Saunders' shoulder. "My very dear friend," he said, "this morning you saved my life. About this time three years ago you saved it under even more dramatic circumstances and at even greater personal risk. There is no room for apologies from you to me." A silence followed his Majesty's words. Then the King went on: "Besides, this mad American friend of yours is a very small part of my troubles. Were my subjects loyal men and true, his capacity for harm would be nil; as it is, I think we over-rate it. With Father Bernhardt in the Strafeburg we can sleep safe and sound in our beds to-night." His Majesty touched the electric bell. "Let us drink death to anarchy and revolution," he went on, as the major-domo Bomcke appeared. "Bomcke, brandy and cigarettes, if you please." In a trice the whiskered and stately Bomcke produced the necessary stimulants from a Buhl cupboard, and set the shining glass and silver on the great circular table of Florentine inlay. The men filled their glasses in turn. "Death to anarchy, sire!" cried General von Bilderbaum; "and may my sword help to deal its death-blow." "Death to traitors, cowards, and----" began Saunders, but his speech was checked by the appearance on the scene of General Meyer. "What news?" demanded his Majesty. "Good and bad, sire," replied the Commander-in-Chief. "The good first, please," said Karl. "The Red Hussars have refused to quit their barracks." The King's face fell. "You call that good news?" he said after a pause. "Distinctly," returned Meyer. "Had they turned out they would undoubtedly have sided with the rioters. I know their admirable Colonel, and the _ètat d'âme_ of his command." The King put his brandy and soda down untasted on the table. "Now for the bad news," he said firmly. "They are singing the 'Rothlied' in front of the Strafeburg, sire," was the Commander-in-Chief's reply. "Is that all?" demanded his Majesty.