r. Niclas still stood at the door of the stage. His demand had not been
attended to; he repeated it for the third time.

"Is it customary here to demand passports of travellers?" asked a
commanding voice from the stage.

Niclas, and taking the two mysterious cases from the stage, he placed
them before the strangers.

"Let us go into the house," whispered the king to his friends. "We
must make bonne mine a mauvais jeu," and he approached the door of the
house--there stood the wife of the postmaster, with sparkling eyes and a
malicious grin.

"The postilion is going, and you will lose your money," she said, "they
never return money when once they have it."

"Ah! I thought that was only a habit of the church," said the king,
laughing. "Nevertheless, the postmaster can keep what he has. Will you
have the kindness to show me a room, where I can open my bag at leisure,
and send some coffee and good wine to us?"

There was something so commanding in the king's voice, so imposing in
his whole appearance, that even the all-conquering Madame Niclas felt
awed, and she silently stepped forward and showed him her best room. The
servant followed with the two cases and the bag, and laid them upon the
table, then placed himself at the door.

"Now, madame, leave us," ordered the king, "and do as I told you."

Madame Niclas left, and the gentlemen were once more alone.

"Now, what shall we do?" said the king, smilingly. "I believe there is
danger of our wonderful trip falling through."

"It is only necessary for your majesty to make yourself known to the
postmaster," said Colonel Balby.

"And if he will not believe me, this fripon who declares that no
one could tell by my appearance whether I was a rascal or not, this
dull-eyed simpleton, who will not see the royal mark upon my brow, which
my courtiers see so plainly written there? No, no, my friend, that is
not the way. We have undertaken to travel as ordinary men--we must now
see how common men get through the world. It is necessary to show the
police that we are at least honest men. Happily, I believe I have the
means to do so at hand. Open our ominous bag, friend Balby, I think you
will discover my portfolio, and in it a few blank passes, and my state
seal."

Colonel Balby did as the king ordered, and drew from the bag the
portfolio, with its precious contents.

The king bade Balby sit down and fill up the blanks at his dictation.

The pass was drawn up for the two b