"Uncle Nicholas, what do you mean?" he gasped, wrinkling his eyebrows. "Is this Germanos's doing?" "Not so, little Mitsos, for neither Germanos nor another could do that, but only myself. I have resigned my place in the senate, I have resigned my commission, and all that is left of me is plain Nicholas; but a man as happy as a king, instead of a bundle of malice and a bag of bad words which squirted out like new must. Eh, but I am happy, and it is God's own morning." And he puffed out a great cloud of smoke and laughed out a great mouthful of laughter. "But what has happened?" cried Mitsos, still feeling that the world was upsidedown. "This has happened, little one," said Nicholas; "that a foul-tempered man has made up his mind to be foul tempered no more, and as the thing was an impossibility when he had to sit cocked up on a chair opposite the proud primates, why he has been sensible enough to refuse to sit there any longer. And as he was tired of tripping up on his fine tin sword, he has given it back to the fine tin prince. And may that man never do anything which he regrets less. Ah! here come my superior officers. There will be talking to do, but little of it will I lay my tongue to." And he sprang up and saluted Petrobey. Petrobey came up, quickly followed by two or three of the other officers, among whom was the prince, smiling at Nicholas through his annoyance, as the man stood at attention comely and erect. "Drop that nonsense, dear cousin," he said, "and come to my tent for a talk. Look, we have all come to fetch you." Nicholas looked at him radiantly. "I have had a set of good minutes since I left you," he said. "Say your say, cousin, but little talking will I do." The prince came forward with a fine, courteous air. "We have come," he said, "to beg you to reconsider this step. I fancy you will find no more insults awaiting you in the senate." "Your highness," he said, "I can look back on my life and say I have done one wise thing in it, and that this morning. And if, as you say, there are no insults awaiting me in the senate, that confirms my belief in its wisdom." "But this is absurd, Nicholas," remonstrated Petrobey, "and all the primates, even Germanos himself, regret what you have done." Nicholas laughed. "That is a sweet word to me," he said, "and you know it. But I am no child to be coaxed with sugar." "But think of us--we want your help. You have more weight with the men than any of us!" "I shall not fail you," said Nicholas, "and if I do my duty in the ranks as well as I hope, I think I shall be more useful there than anywhere else." "But your career, now on the point of being crowned," said Petrobey, eagerly. "The prince has promised--" But Nicholas waved his hand impatiently.