elf unpleasant, Mater," said Clarence, returning
to the charge. "But I can't swallow those pumpkins. I want the sack
brought in so that we can satisfy ourselves what there _is_ in it." The
Court Chamberlain, in the hope that the contents, whatever they might
be, would at least serve to compromise the Count, instantly despatched
one of the pages to fetch the bag.

"Baron," said the Queen angrily, "it is for Us to give orders--not you!"

"Your Majesty must pardon my presumption," he said, as the pages had
already obeyed him. "I was merely carrying out the wishes of His Royal
Highness the Crown Prince."

"I shall die if this goes on much longer! I _know_ I shall!" gasped Lady
Muscombe.

"Ha!" cried Clarence, as the pages staggered in with a huge distended
sack. "Leave it alone, I'll open it myself."

"Surely not without asking the owner's permission?" said the Duchess,
who had hitherto witnessed the scene in silent and dignified amazement.

"You can open it if you like!" said the Count, with a confident smile.
"And then you will see what a fuss you have made about nothing."

Clarence cut the cord, and opened the sack. The moment he did so his
jaw fell. "I own up," he said. "I was wrong. They _are_ pumpkins!"

"And if you are a gentleman, Clarence," cried Edna, "you will apologise
to Ruprecht at once!"

"There may be something else underneath," he said, lifting a pumpkin
suspiciously in both hands. "Hullo! My hat! What's this I've got hold
of?" he exclaimed, as the vegetable suddenly developed, the moment it
was clear of the sack, into one of the chubbiest of the royal pages.
"Very odd!" he remarked, as he set the boy down. "Let's have the lot
out." He tilted the sack, and as each pumpkin rolled out upon the
sardonyx pavement, a bewildered page sprang up in its stead.

"Quite a clever trick!" said Lady Muscombe. "Even Maskelyne and Devant
couldn't beat that!"

"After all, it wasn't so very much of a change!" was Ruby's comment.

"What do you boys mean by playing at being pumpkins in this way?"
demanded King Sidney. "I must have an explanation of this. Speak out,
one of you!"

"If it please you, sire," said the first page, sinking on one knee,
"When His Excellency the Count arrived he invited us to get inside the
sack, at the bottom of which he told us we should find sweetmeats. And
we crawled in--and I don't remember any more till I fell out just now."

"Just count these boys, Baron, will you?" said the King