She clouded up like storm; she called for her guards, and said: "Hale me these varlets to the dungeons." That struck cold on my ears, for her dungeons had a reputation.
Nothing occurred to me to say--or do.

But not so with Sandy.
As the guard laid a hand upon me, she piped up with the tranquilest confidence, and said: "God's wounds, dost thou covet destruction, thou maniac?
It is The Boss!" Now what a happy idea that was!--and so simple; yet it would never have occurred to me.

I was born modest; not all over, but in spots; and this was one of the spots.
The effect upon madame was electrical.

It cleared her countenance and brought back her smiles and all her persuasive graces and blandishments; but nevertheless she was not able to entirely cover up with them the fact that she was in a ghastly fright.

She said: "La, but do list to thine handmaid! as if one gifted with powers like to mine might say the thing which I have said unto one who has vanquished Merlin, and not be jesting.