you imagine!"

To which pathetic appeal Princess Edna merely responded by a short
sniff, expressive rather of incredulity than any softer emotion.

CHAPTER XX

AT THE END OF HER TETHER

Both the Queen and Edna that morning had observed an unwonted stir in
the usually quiet and sleepy streets of Eswareinmal as they looked down
on them from the Terrace parapet.

The great square was black with citizens, and from it rose a faint but
angry drone that was unpleasantly suggestive of the results of pitching
a large stone into a hornets' nest.

"I expect," remarked Queen Selina, "they're all busy discussing this
engagement of Clarence's. If we drive out this afternoon we mustn't
forget to take at _least_ two sacks of gold with us."

"I doubt if we can afford to drive out at _all_ just now," said Edna.

"Perhaps," agreed her mother, "it _would_ be wiser to wait till things
have settled down a little. Why they should get so excited about it I
can't think. It's _most_ inconsiderate and troublesome of them--at a
time, too, when, goodness knows, I've enough to worry about!"

Just then she was chiefly harassed by a doubt whether she had been
wholly wise in accepting the Marshal as a confederate, and especially in
committing her secret instructions to writing. What if he knew or
guessed her real reasons for getting rid of Miss Heritage? But, even if
that were so, he had probably acted as he had out of goodwill and
desire to maintain the dynasty. He had never shown the slightest
jealousy or chagrin at having been deprived of the Regency. No, on the
whole, she thought he could be trusted to be silent--if only because he
could not betray her without admitting his own complicity. Still, there
was a danger that he might presume on his knowledge--which would be
disagreeable enough. If their Majesties were reluctant to show
themselves just then to the populace, the populace on the other hand
were determined to be both seen and heard. The proclamation of
Clarence's betrothal had served as the breaking strain to the attenuated
links that still attached them to the Throne. They had murmured against
the enfranchisement of the Yellow Gnomes; their deception in the matter
of the self-supplying tables had weakened their loyalty seriously for a
time; the projected alliance of the Princess Edna with the surviving
member of a race whose scutcheon bore the taint of Ogreism had aroused
their bitter resentment. But all these grievances