he King. "Are you not our friend?"

"In that case," said Gorman, "before I go a step further into the
matter I must know what on earth the Emperor has got to do with
Madame's pearls."

"The Emperor," said Madame Ypsilante, "is a devil."

"Take another glass of port," said the King. "No? Then light a
cigar. If you will light a cigar and fill for yourself a glass of
brandy--also for Corinne--I will tell you about the Emperor."

Gorman filled Madame's glass and his own. He was particular about
Madame's. Brandy had a soothing influence on her. He did not like her
habit of throwing things about in moments of excitement. He also lit a
cigar.

"I will make my breast clean of the whole affair," said the King.
"Then you will understand and help us. The Emperor has spilt cold
water all over Salissa--that is over the sale of the island to the
American."

"The Emperor must have very little to do," said Gorman, "if he has
time to waste in fussing about a wretched little island like Salissa.
How did he hear about the sale?"

"I think," said the King, "that Steinwitz must have permitted the cat
to jump out of the bag. Steinwitz smelt rats, of that I am sure."

"I daresay you're right," said Gorman. "I rather thought Steinwitz was
nosing around. But why does the Emperor mind? That's what I'm trying
to get at."

The King shrugged his shoulders.

"Who knows?" he said. "_Real Politik_, perhaps. What you call----How
do you call _Real Politik_?"

"Haven't got a word for it," said Gorman. "For the matter of that we
haven't got the thing. We manage along all right with sham politics,
Ireland and Insurance Acts and the rest of it. If real politics lead
to trouble over places like Salissa I prefer our home-made imitation.
But _Real Politik_ or not, the thing's done; so what's the good of the
Emperor talking?"

"The Emperor," said the King, "says 'Buy back. Take again your
island. Foot--no, it is foot of a horse--hoof, or boot away the
American. Give him his price and let him go.' And I cannot. It is no
longer possible to give back the oof."

"I quite understand that," said Gorman. "Your six weeks in Paris and
Madame's pearls----"

"The Emperor shall not touch my pearls," said Madame Ypsilante.
"Rather would I swallow them."

"The American," said the King, "will perhaps accept a reduced price.
The island is not an amusing place. Dull, my friend, dull as ditch
mud. By this time he has found out that Salissa is as respectable