for the Army; the actual expenses were what I
paid--what I owe Woggs. . . . I suppose that is what narrow-minded
people call being bad. . . . I suppose this Prince Udo would call it
bad. . . . I suppose he thinks he will marry the Princess and throw
me into prison." She flung her head back proudly. "Never!"

Standing in the middle of the great Throne Room, she held the ring up
in her two hands and wished.

"I wish," she said, and there was a terrible smile in her eyes, "I
wish that something very--very _humorous_ shall happen to Prince Udo
on his journey."

CHAPTER VIII

PRINCE UDO SLEEPS BADLY

Everybody likes to make a good impression on his first visit, but
there were moments just before his arrival in Euralia when Prince Udo
doubted whether the affair would go as well as he had hoped. You
shall hear why.

He had been out hunting with his friend, the young Duke Coronel, and
was returning to the Palace when Hyacinth's messenger met him. He
took the letter from him, broke the seals, and unrolled it.

"Wait a moment, Coronel," he said to his friend. "This is going to be
an adventure of some sort, and if it's an adventure I shall want you
with me."

"I'm in no hurry," said Coronel, and he got off his horse and gave it
into the care of an attendant. The road crossed a stream here.
Coronel sat up on the little stone bridge and dropped pebbles idly
into the water.

The Prince read his letter.

_Plop . . . Plop . . . Plop . . . Plop . . ._

The Prince looked up from his letter.

"How many days' journey is it to Euralia?" he asked Coronel.

"How long did it take the messenger to come?" answered Coronel,
without looking up. (_Plop._)

"I might have thought of that myself," said Udo, "only this letter has
rather upset me." He turned to the messenger. "How long has it----?"

"Isn't the letter dated?" said Coronel. (_Plop._)

Udo paid no attention to this interruption and finished his question
to the messenger.

"A week, sire."

"Ride on to the castle and wait for me. I shall have a message for
you."

"What is it?" said Coronel, when the messenger had gone. "An
adventure?"

"I think so. I think we may call it that, Coronel."

"With me in it?"

"Yes, I think you will be somewhere in it."

Coronel stopped dropping his pebbles and turned to the Prince.

"May I hear about it?"

Udo help out the letter; then feeling that a lady's letter should be
private, drew it back again. He p