followed by others bearing the skeleton of a whale, while the robbers
and the rest of their queer helpers were loaded with every thing
relating to history, science, and art which ought to be in a really
good museum. When the whole collection had been put in place upon the
floors, the shelves, and in the cases, it was nearly morning. The
robbers, with the Hermit's Pupil, retired to the cave; the Weirds
disappeared; while the Stranger betook himself to the Queen's palace,
where, as soon as the proper hour arrived, he requested an audience.

When he saw the Queen, he perceived that she was very pale and that
her cheeks bore traces of recent tears. "You are back in good time,"
she said to him, "but it makes very little difference whether you
have succeeded in your mission or not. There is no longer any museum.
There has been a great robbery, and the thieves have carried off the
whole of the vast and valuable collection which I have been so long
in making."

"I know of that affair," said the Stranger, "and I have already
placed in your museum-building the collection which I have obtained.
If your Majesty pleases, I shall be glad to have you look at it. It
may, in some degree, compensate for that which has been stolen."

"Compensate!" cried the Queen. "Nothing can compensate for it; I do
not even wish to see what you have brought."

"Be that as your Majesty pleases," said the Stranger; "but I will be
so bold as to say that I have great hopes that the collection which I
have obtained will interest the people. Will your Majesty graciously
allow them to see it?"

"I have no objection to that," said the Queen; "and indeed I shall be
very glad if they can be made to be interested in the museum. I will
give orders that the prisons be opened, so that everybody can go to
see what you have brought; and those who shall be interested in it
may return to their homes. I did not release my obstinate subjects
when the museum was robbed, because their fault then was just as
great as it was before; and it would not be right that they should
profit by my loss."

The Queen's proclamation was made, and for several days the museum
was crowded with people moving from morning till night through the
vast collection of stuffed animals, birds, and fishes; rare and
brilliant insects; mineral and vegetable curiosities; beautiful works
of art; and all the strange, valuable, and instructive objects which
had been brought from the interminable vau