a "one-horse" kingdom, and that royalty was a
humbug.

The vision exploded; so did the mirth of Mr. Stoute, as soon as the door
of the department of foreign affairs had closed behind him. He laughed
till every ounce of his adipose frame quivered.

"What are you laughing at, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the disappointed suitor
for Belgian honors.

"You will excuse me, sir; but really I can't help it," choked the fat
professor.

"I really don't see anything to laugh at," added Mr. Hamblin,
indignantly.

"I was intensely amused at the shuffling indifference of Monsieur
Rogier. He evidently regards himself as a very great man, not to be
disturbed by insignificant Greek scholars."

"What do you mean by _insignificant_, Mr. Stoute?" asked the lean
professor, solemnly.

"Why, the minister had never even heard of you, of your Greek Grammar,
Greek Reader, and Anabasis. Such is fame!" chuckled the good-natured
instructor.

"'What we Americans call a practical joke,' were the words of the
minister. Do you regard this as a joke, Mr. Stoute?" said the learned
gentleman, very seriously.

"I suppose it is a joke to all, except the victim."

"Do you know anything about the author of this senseless piece of
imposition?"

"Certainly not. I had not the least idea that the ponderous document was
not genuine till his excellency pronounced it a forgery."

"Who could have done this?"

"Some of the students, probably."

"Probably," replied the professor, taking the note from his pocket
again, and carefully scanning the handwriting. "I have no doubt it was
done by one of the students. It is another of their infamous tricks--the
fourth that has been put upon me. Do the other instructors suffer in
this manner?"

"I have not heard of any other victims, and I am inclined to think you
are the only one."

"I do not see why I should be selected as the recipient of these silly
and ridiculous, not to say wicked, tricks. A rope falls on _my_ head,
_I_ am pitched into the river, drenched with dirty water, and now sent
on a fool's errand to the king's chief minister! I don't understand why
I am the only sufferer."

Professor Stoute did understand why Mr. Hamblin had been so frequently
sacrificed, but he had a habit of minding his own business, and did not
venture to give an opinion on the subject, which probably would not have
been well received. What the fat professor knew all the boys in the
Josephine, and most of those in the Young Am