scomfited but quite unrepentant Ogre. "And mind you keep inside it
for the future. _You_ will see that he does that, Marshal? I don't want
any scandal about this business, but if I have any _more_ trouble from
you, I shall be forced--well, to take some very strong measures."

"I'm just going," said the Ogre calmly. "May I have my bag?"

"Confound your impudence, no!" returned the King, "I shall have the
beastly thing destroyed."

"Then I think you ought to give me back some of the money I paid for
it," said the Ogre. "I bought it from Master Xuriel, and I know you get
two-thirds the price of any article he sells. He told me so."

"You--you infamous scoundrel!" cried King Sidney, turning extremely red,
perhaps with anger. "Marshal, see this ruffian off the premises--and
look here, just send for that rascally astrologer, will you? I'll make
short work of _him_!"

"Farewell, then, to your Majesties," said the Ogre, with a jaunty wave
of his big hand. "And farewell to _you_, Princess Edna. If I have not
been as much of a Superman as I could wish, you may still find that I
have profited by your teachings."

The old Court Chamberlain's chest gave a loud crack as the Count
swaggered out.

"Thank goodness he's gone!" said Queen Selina. "Really, my dear Duchess,
and you, dear Lady Muscombe, I simply can't _say_ how distressed I am
that anything so unpleasant should have occurred while you were under
our roof. I do _hope_ you won't blame _me_. I always disliked the Count
myself--but I should never have dreamed of asking him to meet you if I
had known the sort of person he really _was_!"

"Indeed, Ma'am," said the Duchess, "I can quite believe _that_."

"And, after all," said Lady Muscombe languidly, "I dare say there are
lots of people in town--in houses where they don't keep a page, I
mean--who'd be glad enough to get him to come and dine. Society is so
much less exclusive than it used to be."

"That," remarked the Duchess, "entirely depends on what you mean by
'Society.' And now, Ma'am," she continued to her hostess, "as the
birds--I think you mentioned that they were storks--which brought us
here should be rested by this time, I shall be obliged if you will order
the car to take me back as soon as I have changed my dress."

"And me, too, if you don't mind," said Lady Muscombe. "I _must_ get home
before Nibbles does."

"Oh, but you mustn't leave us so soon!" protested Queen Selina in
dismay. "To come all this way