s he knew how, and whispered--a whisper which
reached the ears of every occupant of the table:

"Have a care, my lord; have a care! Restrain yourself, sit down if you
don't want me to wring your neck for you!"

And Sachar, who had never in his life before been cautioned, much less
threatened, sank into his seat, speechless and utterly overwhelmed with
amazement, for the moment, at the discovery that there actually existed
an individual who was not afraid of him.

Meanwhile, the queen, with the pen still in her hand, was thoughtfully
considering the list before her and calmly and deliberately erasing name
after name, until not one remained. Then, with a smile, Myrra glanced
at the faces turned toward her, and remarked:

"I am sorry, my lords, that you should have been put to so much trouble
to no purpose, but the names in this list are no more acceptable to me
than were those in the first."

Sachar had been watching the steady process of erasure with fast growing
anger. He believed he began to see the full meaning of the queen's
action. She did not intend to wed at all if she could help it, and
unless she could be compelled to do so, his chance of becoming king was
gone. If she could only be induced to name some person as acceptable,
he believed he could find means to persuade that person to waive the
honour in his (Sachar's) favour; but if she would not do so, what was to
be done? Therefore, when the queen lightly pushed the rejected list
from before her, Sachar sprang to his feet and, addressing the assembly
at large, said:

"My lords, we seem to be singularly unfortunate in our endeavours to
find a consort in every way acceptable to her Majesty. To me it seems
possible that we may compile list after list of names regarded by
ourselves as in every respect eligible, and every list shall meet with a
fate like unto that now upon the table. I would therefore venture to
suggest that the process be reversed, and that instead of our drafting a
list and presenting it for her Majesty's approval, the Queen be
requested to prepare a list of persons acceptable to her, and submit it
to us. Then we, in council assembled, will take that list, give it our
most careful consideration, and decide whether there be any names in it
of which we can all conscientiously approve. What say you, my lords;
does my proposal seem acceptable to you?"

A momentary silence followed this proposal; then, one after another, the
assembled