“The man talks so strangely, that may the priests hang me if I know what to make of it.  But this I do know:  he says many things that would not be pleasing to your majesty’s refined ears; such for instance, as that your majesty governs so badly, and has so little knowledge for turning the vast resources of his country to advantage, that the president of the United States seriously contemplates taking the matter in hand, for he knows it would be acceptable to the saints as well as your ill-governed people.”  At this, his sable majesty went right into a passion and so conducted himself, ordering the queer strangers, as he called them, taken into the plaza and hanged, without further ceremony, that General Potter and Mr. Tickler (neither of whom could understand a word he said) set him down for a madman, inquired of the lawgiver what it all meant, and began to have fears for their safety.  Indeed the state of confusion that reigned in the audience chamber came well-nigh putting an end to this remarkable mission.  “Pray Mr. Lawgiver, what is the matter with the king, for he acts like a man who has lost his understanding?” inquired the general.

“It is only a freak of his; and if you would have the truth of it, I can tell you, that he is berating these vagabond priests, who give him no peace of his life.”  Don Perez Goneti then turned to the king, and said:  “If your majesty will but listen another minute, he may hear something more pleasing, for the ambassador says he has something good in store.”

“Let him proceed then,” replied the king, “and if he redeem himself, the hanging shall be spared.”  The general resumed, while Mr. Tickler trembled in his boots.

“It is come to the president’s knowledge, that your majesty is in possession of several valuable Islands, which in their present condition yield no revenue.  Therefore he has directed me to say that he will relieve you of them, and turn their fruits to such uses as Heaven ordained they should fulfill.  And I can tell your majesty that the president has a remarkable taste for Islands, and so long as he can get them, cares not a whit for the means!”

“May it please your majesty, this great ambassador has a most fertile imagination, to which he adds a supple tongue.  He says the evils of your reign are the natural results of the mischievous interference on the part of the priests; and that the President of the United States, having resolved that this state of things shall no longer exist, has instructed him to seize upon all your Islands, and turn their fruits to such uses as Heaven has ordained.”  This so exasperated the king, that he swore, in the language of his country, that he verily believed the persons before him vagabonds sent by the devil to disturb the peace of his country.  Nor indeed were the priests backward in stirring the mischief, for they whispered among themselves that he ought to be well hanged for the slur flung at their order.  “Take