We went in accordingly, and entered the Doctor's reception-room, to find, as we anticipated, this chieftain among demons striding up and down, and not in the best of tempers. The moment he saw the Doctor he turned upon him fiercely, and roared:
'How is this, Doctor Julius—is this the way you do your duty? Is this my reward for the confidence I have placed in you, for the power I have given you, for the honours I have conferred upon you, for the position of Premier to which I have exalted you? Did I give you permission to take Ubertus into my Parliament, when important and secret measures were to be debated, and where you knew he would not be personally safe? By what authority did you introduce a stranger to the House, contrary to the standing orders, and to all precedents? And what was that miserable Thunderer thinking of when he permitted him to be placed on the table, and to dare to address the House? Did you give him a dose of your horrible taxacorum squeezetalis which you carry about with you in bottles and in powders, ready for use to effect your nefarious purposes? And what is this terrible rumour I have heard, racing like a mad dog through the city—that you, one or the other of you, or both of you together, have murdered my trusted Minister for Foreign Affairs. Sir Dashmy Partigan? Is this true? Can this be true of Doctor Julius, the kind and soft-hearted physician, the benevolent philanthropist, who takes the liberty of altering my decrees because he thinks they are too severe, and of sparing those delinquents whom I condemn to the most terrible of punishments? Speak—rebel—conspirator!'
'My lord Demon,' began the Doctor submissively, 'I humbly beg your Majesty's pardon. I am a great rascal, I know, and a thundering rogue into the bargain, I plead guilty to all your allegations, and would not think for a
