wore
theirs down, so that it was impossible for her to know who they were or
whether they intended her good or ill.

"We expected you long ere this, Lady Daphne," said the Marshal as he
handed her out.

"Did you, Marshal?" she said, trying to appear unconcerned. "We went a
little out of our way." She noticed that, either by accident or design,
several of the knights had interposed themselves between herself and the
Baron.

"We have the less time at our disposal," said the Marshal, "so I will
come to the point at once. You have no doubt been already informed of
your rights, and that I and my companions are here to place you on the
throne, provided you accept my conditions?"

"I--I was not told of any conditions," said Daphne.

"There is but one," he said, and at this the Chapel door was thrown open
and a priest of extremely disreputable exterior appeared on the
threshold, with the lighted altar as his background. "Wed me--and you
shall be Queen of Maerchenland."

"I've no wish to be that," she replied, "and, as you know, Marshal, I
have already promised to marry Prince Mirliflor."

"You may dismiss all thought of that," he said blandly, "for if you
refuse my hand, both you and the Baron will meet with instant death, the
car and birds will also be destroyed and buried, and I have so arranged
that it will be believed that her Majesty Queen Selina has had you
removed to the distant land from which you came."

"Marshal," pleaded Daphne, trying hard to remember that Mirliflor was
really by her side, "I must have time--time to think over your--your
proposal."

"It may help you to decide, Lady Daphne," he said, "if you reflect that,
in any case, you will never again behold Prince Mirliflor of
Clairdelune."

"And why not, Marshal?" said Mirliflor, as he flung away the cap of
darkness and stepped in front of his beloved.

The Marshal knew at once that his fate was sealed. He stood no chance
whatever against a Prince who had slain a dragon singlehanded. The
knights also seemed to recognise this, or else their sympathy had veered
to Daphne's side, for they stood back in a circle without attempting to
interfere, while the priest, who perhaps had not till then understood
that the marriage ceremony was to be compulsory, promptly re-entered the
little Chapel and blew out all the candles.

The combat was over in a second or two--as any combat would necessarily
be in which one of the antagonists was equipped with an irres