‘Stay, Mercia, stay, and listen to me! Listen to one word more, I beseech thee. Thou shalt, for indeed I will not let thee go!’ He shouted fiercely, for she was wrenching herself out of his grasp. ‘Touch me not!’ she exclaimed excitedly, ‘or I will kill thee as thou standest!’ and from her girdle she took a small ebony stick, electrically charged, which she wore as a kind of life-preserver, in accordance with the custom of ladies, who worked, or walked out a good deal alone. She had reached the door, and opened it, when who should rush upon the scene but Geometrus accompanied by the Emperor’s cousin, Prince Osbert, who had been seeking him for some time past. ‘Mercia insulted, and by the Emperor! What is the meaning of this?’ inquired Geometrus, at the same time facing Felicitas with eyes of fire. ‘I am not insulting her,’ coolly rejoined the Emperor, ‘she has disobeyed my commands respecting some important astronomical information I required, and is endeavouring to shield her own shortcomings by getting into a rage: ’tis woman’s way, but I’ll have none of it.’ Then Mercia drawing herself up to her full height, exclaimed in indignant voice—‘Liar, and traitor, I despise thee! Bid thine Empress come hither, I have somewhat to tell her. As for me, I shall never receive thee here again, thou woman-betrayer! Get some other to fill my place, for I shall quit it forthwith.’ Then she turned away with haughty mien and left the apartment. ‘What’s all the row?’ inquired the Emperor’s cousin, who affected vulgarity of speech when with his intimates. ‘Explain this, Sire,’ demanded Geometrus, who was bursting with surprise equally as indignation. ‘Bah, it is naught—it is much ado about nothing,’ replied the Emperor shrugging his shoulders. ‘I do not believe it,’ promptly answered Geometrus; ‘my mistress is too gentle, too self-restrained, and too honourable to make an unjust accusation against anyone; least of all, her royal master. This matter shall be looked into, Sire. Though thou art an Emperor thy conduct shall be examined, and the light of the noonday sun thrown upon it; for it is meet that those filling high places be honourable men.’ ‘If Mistress Mercia sees fit to give up her post, thou Geometrus canst worthily fill it,’ observed Felicitas in an insinuating manner, hoping to mollify him by offering to place him in a more exalted position. ‘By all that’s good, I take not my mistress’s place because thou hast made it intolerable for her! No, Sire, that shall not be. But certainly thou shalt answer for this day’s work, I warn thee.’ ‘Thou hast no proof at all, fellow, that I have done aught amiss, save her lying tale: it is all a woman’s hysterical nonsense, and I am sick of the pother made of it,’ observed the Emperor, affecting great scorn.