Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/255



"I am cursed with bunglers everywhere," he said.

"I am one of them!" Bassus admitted. "I know it. I was surprised at your sending for me."

"I suppose," the Emperor ruminated peevishly, "I should have sent you word to make away with yourself. I didn't want to see you or to talk with you. But I need some of the information you might give me for the benefit of the next man who is to try where you failed and then"

He broke off and fidgeted fretfully.

"I'm ashamed of it," he went on, "but I am consumed with curiosity to know by what recondite imbecility you arranged for such a complete disaster."

Bassus sat silent.

"So I sent for you," the Emperor concluded.

"Thank you, Sir," Bassus said respectfully.

"Now you are here," the Emperor demanded, "what have you to say for yourself?"

"Nothing," Bassus replied simply.

"This is your last chance!" the Emperor admonished him. "Why say anything?" Bassus gloomed. "You know all the facts, you have made up your mind!"

"Assumption of disfavor," the Emperor told