ign. So
he spread the news of Lady Daphne's approaching departure with great
satisfaction and the warmest eulogies of the gracious consideration
Queen Selina had displayed. But even this could only partially check
their disaffection, for they could not forgive her for subjecting them
to the indignity of accepting a Water-nixie as their Crown Princess.

After dismissing the Baron, the Queen had felt somewhat shocked at her
own talent for dissimulation. "I little thought at Gablehurst that I
should ever fib like this!" she reflected. "But I wasn't a Queen _then_!
And I can't afford to be too particular, when it's a question of keeping
the Crown in the family!"

The Marshal waited until the Baron had concluded his interview with the
Queen, and then visited him in his own quarters. The Court Chamberlain
mentioned the instructions he had just received, and spoke in the
highest terms of his Royal mistress's benevolence.

"As you say, Baron," said the Marshal, "such conduct does honour to her
Majesty. She has, however, given me further instructions for you with
which it is well you should be acquainted at once." And he drew out the
secret order, and, after breaking the seal, presented the parchment to
the Baron, who read it with honest amazement and indignation.

"I cannot believe her Majesty can have devised such wickedness!" he
said. "What can be her reason--unless--unless--" and here he checked
himself.

"You were about to say: Unless she knows--as you and I, my dear Baron,
know beyond all doubt--that the Lady Daphne is the real Queen of
Maerchenland?"

"So _you_ know that, too!" cried the Baron, recoiling in terror. "I
swear to you, my lord, that I myself had no suspicion of it until it was
revealed to me by the Court Godmother but two days since!"

"I accept your word for it--though whether _others_ will do so is
another matter," said the Marshal as he picked up and thrust in his
doublet the document which the other had let fall. "But what I should
like to know is, which of your orders you intend to execute?"

"The first, of course," exclaimed the Baron indignantly. "Lady Daphne
has a higher claim to my fealty than this interloper. I shall do my duty
and carry her to Clairdelune."

"You forget that Prince Mirliflor will not be there as yet to receive
her. Nor is it seemly that she should quit her Kingdom without making
any assertion of her claim. My plan is better than yours, Baron.
Hearken: I leave the Palace