such tables, they had
never expected to be able to procure one for themselves by cash payment.

It was obvious to all that an article which simplified housekeeping by
rendering both cook and kitchen fire superfluous was cheap at almost any
price, and the demand was so great that Xuriel had to work harder than
ever to keep pace with it.

And everybody expressed the greatest satisfaction with the tables when
delivered--except, indeed, those citizens who earned their livelihood as
provision-dealers. They protested that they were being ruined by what
they chose to call unfair competition, and even sent a deputation to the
Palace to represent their grievances.

"Show them into the Hall of Audience," said King Sidney, when he was
told of their arrival, "and tell them I will be with them presently and
hear anything they may have to say."

After he had done so he addressed them in a paternal manner, but with
sound common-sense. It was very unfortunate, he admitted, but it was one
of these cases where a small minority had to suffer for the benefit of
the community at large. As a constitutional and democratic Monarch, he
could not interfere to restrict the production of articles that
increased the comfort and well-being of the vast majority of his beloved
subjects. The deputation had his sincere sympathy, but he could do no
more than offer them his advice, which was to escape the starvation they
seemed--a little unnecessarily, if he might say so--to apprehend by
immediately investing their savings in these self-supplying tables. He
added that, from all he could hear, he thought it very probable that the
prices would go up very shortly.

The deputation then thanked him and withdrew. Such dealers as could
afford the outlay followed his advice, and very soon the sacks in the
Sovereign's Counting-house were fuller than ever, and all danger of a
Royal bankruptcy was happily at an end, while the Family had the
additional pleasure of finding themselves popular once more.

Strictly speaking, the Astrologer Royal had not been authorised to
employ his occult skill in producing any objects but the self-supplying
dinner-tables, though it was rumoured that his industry was not entirely
confined to these. He certainly sold the Crown Prince a sword with which
he could face undismayed the fiercest of bears and boars, while the old
Court Chamberlain bought a silk skull-cap that he found most useful on
occasions when he did not desire to at