oing to
review her Royal Highness's Army of Amazons (see _Scheme II, Safety of
Realm_). In half an hour she would be here.

And why not? you say. Could anything be more gratifying?

I will tell you why not. There was no Army of Amazons. In order that
her Royal Highness should not know the sad truth, Belvane drew their
pay for them. 'Twas better thus.

In any trouble Belvane comforted herself by reading up her diary. She
undid the enormous volume, and, idly turning the pages, read some of
the more delightful extracts to herself.

"_Monday, June 1st_," she read. "Became bad."

She gave a sigh of resignation to the necessity of being bad. Roger
Scurvilegs is of the opinion that she might have sighed a good many
years before. According to him she was born bad.

"_Tuesday, June 2nd_," she read on. "Realised in the privacy of my
heart that I was destined to rule the country. _Wednesday, June 3rd._
Decided to oust the Princess. _Thursday, June 4th._ Began ousting."

What a confession for any woman--even for one who had become bad last
Monday! No wonder Belvane's diary was not for everybody. Let us look
over her shoulder and read some more of the wicked woman's
confessions.

"_Friday, June 5th._ Made myself a----" Oh, that's quite private.
However we may read this: "_Thought for the week._ Beware lest you
should tumble down In reaching for another's crown." An admirable
sentiment which Roger Scurvilegs would have approved, although he
could not have rhymed it so neatly.

The Countess turned on a few more pages and prepared to write up
yesterday's events.

"_Tuesday, June 23rd_," she said to herself. "Now what happened?
Acclaimed with enthusiasm outside the Palace--how do you spell
'enthusiasm'?" She bit the end of her pencil and pondered. She
turned back the pages till she came to the place.

"Yes," she said thoughtfully. "It had three 's's' last time, so it's
'z's' turn."

She wrote "enthuzziazm" lightly in pencil; later on it would be picked
out in gold.

She closed the diary hastily. Somebody was coming.

It was Wiggs.

"Oh, if you please, your Ladyship, her Royal Highness sent me to tell
you that she would be here at eleven o'clock to review her new army."

It was the last thing of which Belvane wanted reminding.

"Ah, Wiggs, sweet child," she said, "you find me overwhelmed." She
gave a tragic sigh. "Leader of the Corps de Ballet"--she indicated
with her toe how this was don