Brandeis met the messenger with voluble excuses and engagements for the future.

He was told his explanations were satisfactory so far as they went, but that the admiral's message was to Tamasese, the _de facto_ king.

Brandeis, not very well assured of his puppet's courage, attempted in vain to excuse him from appearing.

No _de facto_ king, no message, he was told: produce your _de facto_ king.

And Tamasese had at last to be produced.