-in
England."

"Then," he said blankly, "the dragon carried off _you_--not _her_?"

"I should have thought that fairly obvious," said Edna frigidly. "You
have evidently rescued me under a misapprehension, though, of course, I
am just as much indebted to you. And I shall be glad to know who you
are. In answering, kindly address me as 'Your Royal Highness.' It is
more correct."

This was highly embarrassing, he thought, though he felt thankful that
his Godmother had not had time to make him recognisable. "My name, your
Royal Highness," he replied, "is Girofle. I have the honour to be one of
his Majesty's under-gardeners."

"Oh," said Edna, "one of _them_? Really. Well, you have behaved most
creditably--very creditably indeed. I really don't know _what_ mightn't
have happened if you hadn't arrived just then. I have never been in such
a trying situation before. And, even as it is," she added, "there
doesn't seem to be any means of getting _out_ of this odious place."

By this time Tuetzi's death-throes were over; his body lay extended half
across the Courtyard, while the head, after having bitten one or two of
the carriage horses rather severely, had also ceased from troubling.
"Perhaps," said Mirliflor, "your Royal Highness will condescend to make
use of the dove-car which brought me here? It will carry you back in
safety to the Palace."

"It looks rather tit-uppy," said Edna, as the doves flew down with it at
his call. "And it only holds one. How are you going to get away
yourself?"

"I shall order some of those varlets to open the gate," he said, "and
they will be wise to obey."

"Clarence's sword _is_ a great help!" said Edna. "Then--_you_ will be
all right. And you may be sure that his Majesty will pay you a suitable
reward."

"The satisfaction of having been of any service to your Royal Highness,"
he said, "is reward enough in itself."

"Oh, but that's such a _pose_!" said Edna. "Of _course_ you expect to be
paid for it!... And you will be. Must I tell these birds where to take
me?... I _see_. Then--Home, please!"

And the doves, glad to escape from such uncongenial surroundings,
whirred upwards with the car and, after a few tentative circles, took it
clear over the battlements.

As for the retainers, they waited for no order to unbar the gate for
Mirliflor, being all eagerness to facilitate his departure. He strode
unconcernedly out, and, finding a party of the Royal guard outside, he
informed them t