The Emperor turned to the Secretary. “Sir,” he said in a voice trembling with agitation, “you have heard the insult that has been offered to my Imperial person, and if you do not deliver this man over to my police, I shall at twelve o’clock tomorrow night declare war against the United States of America, and until that time”--threateningly--“I shall hold you personally responsible for him.” Edestone coolly took out his watch and noted that it was exactly twenty-five minutes past eleven o’clock, a proceeding which almost caused the Emperor to lose control of himself again, but he was once more held in check by General von Lichtenstein. “I know now that this is a trick, Your Majesty,” he declared. The Acting Ambassador bowed slightly to the Emperor’s last attack. “I shall report to my Government all that has passed,” he replied, “and exactly what Your Majesty has just said, and I shall, as soon as I receive an answer, report to Your Imperial Majesty.” He finished, and stood waiting as if to force the Emperor’s immediate departure. Then with scant formality, and showing by the unpardonable rudeness of their behaviour the contempt in which they held all Americans, the Emperor and his entire suite left the Embassy without taking the slightest further notice of Edestone. CHAPTER XXVII ALL CARDS ON THE TABLE The royal party had scarcely gotten out of the house and Edestone and Jones were still standing in the middle of the reception room when the return of General von Lichtenstein was announced. The old General came in as quietly as if nothing had happened. He greeted the Secretary cordially and smiled benignly at Edestone. “Young man,” he said, “you needed my old head on your young shoulders badly tonight. I have returned to have a talk with the Acting Ambassador, and I think that if he can prevail upon you to be reasonable I may be able to settle this little difficulty between you and His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. If you will only lead us into some smaller room, Mr. Secretary, we can sit down and over our cigars discuss this matter quietly.” “I am sorry that my machine--” began Edestone, but he was quickly interrupted by the General. “Tut, tut, that is nothing at all. That was simply two young men losing their tempers, and ought to be soon settled. One being an Emperor makes it a little more difficult, I will admit, but I have seen Emperors angry before and they are just like any of us. They cool off when they realize that they have,” and he lowered his voice with a quizzical look, “been a little bit foolish.” When they were all comfortably seated around the table in the library of the Embassy, and the General and Edestone had lighted cigars, while Jones, who never smoked, looked on, the old General, statesman, philosopher, and writer opened the conversation. “We have now come to the last hand in this game which we have been playing,” he said, “and I think it would be just as well for all cards to be laid on the table.”