--yes--that is--no! No, I am not so fortunate in love as I seem to be
in other things. Ah me! Rosamund!'

'Well, well,' said the King, with a particularly arch look, 'I dare
say we shall be able to do you a good turn in that way too.'

'Is this the place where kings are crowned?' demanded Yellow-cap.

'Certainly; where else could it be?' returned the King.

'Then I will be crowned this moment,' said Yellow-cap in the
commanding tone which he had found it best to use towards these London
people. 'Is there an Archbishop present? And let somebody fetch a
throne!'

'Here is the throne, please your Worship,' said the half-witted youth,
leading forward the donkey.

'And here is the Archbishop, at your service,' said one of the persons
in the white dominoes, making a bow.

'That won't do,' said Yellow-cap sharply. 'You are the Prime
Maniac--only you have shaved your moustachios.'

'That makes all the difference, please your Highness,' replied the
other humbly.

'And now I look at you again,' continued Yellow-cap, 'I think I
remember you before you were a Prime Maniac. I remember you when you
were only three feet high.'

'It is all the same,' answered the other again. 'I rise to the
occasion.'

'Well, it makes no difference, I suppose,' said Yellow-cap, after a
pause, bestriding the donkey's back. 'Now for the crown!'

King Ormund took the crown from his brow and handed it to the
Archbishop, who put it on Yellow-cap's head, over the yellow cap. Then
all the courtiers round about murmured their congratulations, the
audience that filled the theatre shouted 'Hooray!' and 'Encore!' the
ex-King clapped him on the shoulder and said, 'Bless you, my boy!' and
Silvia whispered in his ear, 'Now you are King!'

'Long live King Yellow-cap!' roared everybody.

'How do you like it?' asked Ormund pleasantly.

'I feel about as I did before,' replied the new King, in a slightly
disappointed tone. 'How much does this crown weigh? Haven't you a
lighter one?'

'No; and you won't find that one grow any lighter,' said Ormund, with
a chuckle. 'But if you don't feel any difference I do! I am ten years
younger already. I am positively light-headed.'

'Well, at all events I am a King!' said Yellow-cap.

'And now,' observed Ormund, rubbing his hands and glancing at Silvia,
'since the coronation is over, what do you say to our having the
wedding?'

'Yes--yes; the wedding!' echoed all the courtiers.

Silvia arranged the ribbon at