inquired the Queen.

"He couldn't very well help himself--his head had been cut off. So had
the dragon's, and that abominable little wretch Xuriel's too."

By this time not only the Marshal but the Court Godmother and the
Chamberlain had joined the party.

"But who was brave enough to do all this?" asked the Queen. "Though I
think I can _guess_!"

"I fancy he said he was one of the under-gardeners here. Of course he
couldn't have done it without Clarence's sword, but still----"

"I never lent him it," said Clarence. "If _I'd_ had it--however, perhaps
it's as well he _did_ borrow it. Jolly plucky of the beggar, I call it!"

"He behaved extremely well," Edna admitted. "You will have to reward him
or something, Father."

"His Majesty," said the Marshal, with a certain gusto, "has already
offered your Royal Highness's hand in marriage to whomsoever should be
so fortunate as to effect your deliverance."

"Without consulting Me!" cried Edna. "_Really_, Father, these things
aren't done nowadays! It's too absurd!"

"My love," said the Queen with a glance of secret intelligence at the
embarrassed Baron, who looked another way, "the circumstances were
exceptional. And a King can't go back on his _word_! Besides, this
ex-gardener may be not such a common person as he _seems_--may he not,
Baron?"

"But, dash it, Mater!" said Clarence, while the Baron could only blink,
"an under-gardener--what!"

"I'm bound to say--" began the King, when the Queen interrupted:

"You are bound to say that you'll keep your promise, Sidney, and that is
enough till the dear fellow comes to claim his reward."

It was the Marshal whose superfluous zeal led him to order Girofle to be
stopped and brought into the Royal presence as soon as he arrived at the
Palace.

The Royal Family, with the Court Godmother, the Baron, and other members
of the Household, had assembled in the Throne Room when the Marshal
entered, leading the reluctant Girofle, acutely conscious of looking his
very worst. After him came some men-at-arms, who carried the dragon's
still terrific head, with those of the Count and Xuriel, as trophies of
the hero's exploit.

They caused a general but by no means unpleasant shudder to run through
the beholders.

"Your Majesties," said the ex-Regent, "I have the honour to present the
gallant youth who has nobly earned even such a prize as the hand of her
Royal Highness."

"But--but," stammered Queen Selina, "this isn't--there'