the person who should have
the key."

"There's one for each of us," he said. "Here's yours. And on that table
there you'll find purses laid out, and a little gold shovel to fill them
with. I've filled mine. Whenever our funds are running low, you see,
we've only to come down here and help ourselves."

"Good biz!" said the Crown Prince, beginning to fill one of the purses.
"I shall fill my pockets as well--save another journey, what?"

"Some of us do not possess pockets, Clarence," said his mother. "And I
must make it a rule that no one is to take out more than a purseful at a
time, and only after satisfying me that the money is required for some
legitimate purpose."

"I don't think such precautions are at all necessary, my dear," said
King Sidney. "Marshal Federhelm seems to have put by a good deal while
he was Regent. And besides, there's plenty more where _this_ comes from,
you know!"

"And where _does_ it come from?" inquired the Queen.

"Why, the Treasurer tells me, we've a mine of our own in
the Golden Mountains a few miles from here--a mine that is
practically--ah--inexhaustible. I rather thought of driving over
to see it some day."

"Let's all go!" said the Crown Prince. "Why not this afternoon? It'll be
something to do!"

Queen Selina was pleased to approve the suggestion. "We certainly ought
to show that we are interested in industrial concerns," she said. "All
the _best_ Sovereigns do. I can't help wishing, though, that poor dear
Papa could have come with us. He knew so much about gold mines."

"Just as well for us he can't," said Clarence, "because _he'd_ be the
Boss, then! I say, I've got an idea. Why not take one of those sacks in
the coach with us and chuck money out of the window to the crowd, what?"

"Look too much as if we were out for a beanfeast, my boy," objected his
father.

"And what's the matter with a beanfeast? Believe me, it will make us
jolly popular and be a lot better fun than just bowing to the
blighters."

"And far less fatiguing," said Edna.

"There's something in what Clarence says," said the Queen. "It _would_
increase our popularity--and that is so important. Of course we
shouldn't make a _practice_ of it, but we can quite afford it, just for
once--what do you think, Mr. Marshal?"

The Marshal thought it was an excellent notion.

The Golden Mountains were not much more than a couple of leagues from
Eswareinmal, and the roads being tolerably good, a lighter vehicle t