said. “You know, like he did just now.”
“He dribbed me?” Ai-Poppy-Googy choked. “On burpose?”
“Why, ah, it must have been a mistake—” Straphanger started.
“Your Arrogance has such a keen sense of humor, I’m sure you’ll see the comic aspect of it, if you just think about it,” Magnan offered.
“Retief! Did you—I mean, surely you didn’t—” Straphanger choked.
“Well!” Magnan said indignantly. “I was lying right there—”
“Zearch him!” the Pope bellowed. Guards jumped forward; busy hands grabbed at Retief’s kilt-pockets, almost at once came upon the folded paper the Spism had dropped as it fled his room.
“Ah-hah!” the Pope pounced, opened the paper, read the message.
“A gonsbirazy!” he yelled. “Unter my fery nose! But the ironts on him!”
“I must protest!” Straphanger spoke up. “You can’t go about chaining up diplomats every time a little indiscretion is committed! Leave the matter to me, Your Arrogance; I’ll see that a sharp entry goes in his record—”
“The Kods will nod pe denied their tue!” Ai-Poppy-Googy roared. “Domorrow is the Krant Vestifal of Wentstay—”
“Tomorrow’s Thursday,” Magnan interjected.
“Domorrow is Wentstay! Totay is Wentstay! I herepy teclare a whole weeg of Wentstays, plast it! Now, as I was sayink—this Derran will bartizibade in the vestifal! Zuch is the Babal will! No more arkuments!”
“Oh, he’ll be taking part in a ceremony!” Straphanger said in a relieved tone. “Well, goodness, I suppose we can spare him long enough for that.” He offered a small diplomatic chuckle. “The Corps is always ready to promote worship in whatever form, of course—”
“The only dru Kots are the Hookan Kots, py the Kots!” the Pope boomed. “Any more of your Derran heresy, and I’ll referse my tisbenzation! Now dake thiz one to the demple and brebare him vor the rides of Wentstay! The resd of you will remain unter arresd, undil the will of the Kots is known!”
“Mr. Ambassador,” Magnan quavered, tugging at Straphanger’s arm. “Do you think we should allow them—”
“Merely letting His Arrogance save face,” Straphanger said in a confidential tone. He winked at Retief. “Don’t worry, my boy; good experience for you. You’ll get an inside view of