speaking of---- By the way, who is he?"

"He comes from Araby, and his name is----"

"Udo, of course. Why didn't I think of him? An excellent
arrangement, my dear."

"It isn't Udo, I'm afraid, Father. It's Coronel."

"And who might Coronel be?" said the King, rather sternly.

"He's--he's--well, he's---- Here he is, Father." She ran up to him
impulsively as he came in at the door. "Oh, Coronel, you're just in
time; do tell Father who you are."

Coronel bowed profoundly to the King.

"Before I explain myself, your Majesty," he said, "may I congratulate
your Majesty on your wonderful victory over the Barodians? From the
little I have gathered outside, it is the most remarkable victory that
has ever occurred. But of course I am longing to hear the full story
from your Majesty's own lips. Is it a fact that your Majesty made his
way at dead of night to the King of Barodia's own tent and challenged
him to mortal combat and slew him?" There was an eagerness, very
winning, in his eyes as he asked it; he seemed to be envying the King
such an adventure--an adventure after his own heart.

Merriwig was in an awkward position. He wondered for a moment whether
to order his daughter out of the room. "Leave us, my child," he would
say. "These are matters for men to discuss." But Hyacinth would know
quite well why she had been sent out, and would certainly tell Coronel
the truth of the matter afterwards.

It really looked as if Coronel would have to be let into the secret
too. He cleared his throat noisily by way of preparation.

"There are certain state reasons," he said with dignity, "why that
story has been allowed to get about."

"Pardon, your Majesty. I have no wish to----"

"But as you know so much, you may as well know all. It happened like
this." Once more he told the story of his midnight visit, and of the
King's letter to him.

"But, your Majesty," cried Coronel, "it is more wonderful than the
other. Never was such genius of invention, such brilliance and daring
of execution."

"So you like it," said Merriwig, trying to look modest.

"I love it."

"I knew he'd love it," put in Hyacinth. "It's just the sort of story
that Coronel would love. Tell him about how you fought the King at
the beginning of the war, and how you pretended to be a swineherd, and
how--"

Could any father have resisted? In a little while Hyacinth and
Coronel were seated eagerly at his feet, and he was telling onc