me with me. He is no fighter, but he is good
at spells." He looked round to make sure that they were alone, and
then went on confidentially, "He tells me that he has discovered in
the archives of the palace a Backward Spell of great value. Should he
be able to cast this upon the enemy at the first onslaught, he thinks
that our heroic army would have no difficulty in advancing."

"But there will be other learned men," said Belvane innocently, "so
much more accustomed to affairs than us poor women, so much better
able"--("What nonsense I'm talking," she said to herself)--"to advise
her Royal Highness----"

"Men like that," said the King, "I shall want with me also. If I am
to invade Barodia properly I shall need every man in the kingdom.
Euralia must be for the time a country of women only." He turned to
her with a smile and said gallantly, "That will be--er---- It
is--er--not--er----. One may well--er----"

It was so obvious from his manner that something complimentary was
struggling to the surface of his mind, that Belvane felt it would be
kinder not to wait for it.

"Oh, your Majesty," she said, "you flatter my poor sex."

"Not at all," said the King, trying to remember what he had said. He
held out his hand. "Well, Countess, I have much to do."

"I, too, your Majesty."

She made him a deep curtsey and, clasping tightly the precious diary,
withdrew.

The King, who still seemed worried about something, returned to his
table and took up his pen. Here Hyacinth discovered him ten minutes
later. His table was covered with scraps of paper and, her eyes
lighting casually upon one of them, she read these remarkable words:

"_In such a land I should be a most contented subject._"

She looked at some of the others. They were even shorter:

"_That, dear Countess, would be my----_"

"_A country in which even a King----_"

"_Lucky country!_"

The last was crossed out and "_Bad_" written against it.

"Whatever are these, Father?" said Hyacinth.

The King jumped up in great confusion.

"Nothing, dear, nothing," he said. "I was just--er---- Of course I
shall have to address my people, and I was just jotting down a few----
However, I shan't want them now." He swept them together, screwed
them up tight, and dropped them into a basket.

And what became of them? you ask. Did they light the fires of the
Palace next morning? Well, now, here's a curious thing. In Chapter X
of _Euralia Past and Present_