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246 minute of defending myself, yet have some distant, and faint, cloudy, although infinitesimal hope that you will have some little microscopical shadow of mercy upon me on account of parliamentary excitement, and extenuating circumstances in general, which, as I will relate to your most excellent Majesty in very few words, and the simplest of all languages, will, I hope, have the beneficial and soporific effect which, for the sake of peace and the universal Federation of the whole world, I am naturally led to expect. When I received your Majesty's summons to attend your great Parliament, by virtue of my exalted office of Premier, I—rashly and foolishly, I am willing to admit—communicated that intelligence to your distinguished friend Ubertus, who immediately formed the resolution, in his thoroughly obstinate and wooden head, to come with me to the Parliament. I swore I would not take him, he swore he would go, and, sir, I had to give way on account of the youth's delicate state of health, but I believe his real reason for wanting to go was because he had set his heart on seeing the charming Princess Bellagranda again. Well, my good lord, I gave him proper advice——'

'Cut it short, sir, my time is precious,' broke in the Demon.

'What conduct he was to pursue, and it was solely with a view of doing you honour, my lord, that I introduced your valued friend to the House, and it was entirely unforeseen, and quite contrary to my desire, and frequently-expressed wishes, that the House was pleased to take the notice of him which it did, and which it did, I believe, with the generous and romantic object of amusing your amiable and enchanting daughter, the Princess. I am grieved to the heart to be obliged to say that our distinguished friend Ubertus suddenly and unaccountably lost his head, when he found himself stuck up on the table of the House, hunting