s Boscenos
went back to Brian the Good, and under the Draconides had held the
highest offices in the kingdom. In 1179, Philip Torticol, High Admiral
of Penguinia, a brave, faithful, and generous, but vindictive man,
delivered over the port of La Crique and the Penguin fleet to the
enemies of the kingdom, because he suspected that Queen Crucha, whose
lover he was, had been unfaithful to him and loved a stable-boy. It was
that great queen who gave to the Boscenos the silver warming-pan which
they bear in their arms. As for their motto, it only goes back to the
sixteenth century. The story of its origin is as follows: One gala
night, as he mingled with the crowd of courtiers who were watching the
fire-works in the king's garden, Duke John des Boscenos approached the
Duchess of Skull and put his hand under the petticoat of that lady, who
made no complaint at the gesture. The king, happening to pass, surprised
them and contented himself with saying, "And thus I find you." These
four words became the motto of the Boscenos.

Prince Adelestan had not degenerated from his ancestors. He preserved an
unalterable fidelity for the race of the Draconides and desired nothing
so much as the restoration of Prince Crucho, an event which was in his
eyes to be the fore-runner of the restoration of his own fortune. He
therefore readily entered into the Reverend Father Agaric's plans. He
joined himself at once to the monk's projects, and hastened to put him
into communication with the most loyal Royalists of his acquaintance,
Count Clena, M. de La Trumelle, Viscount Olive, and M. Bigourd. They
met together one night in the Duke of Ampoule's country house, six miles
eastward of Alca, to consider ways and means.

M. de La Trumelle was in favour of legal action.

"We ought to keep within the law," said he in substance. "We are for
order. It is by an untiring propaganda that we shall best pursue the
realisation of our hopes. We must change the feeling of the country. Our
cause will conquer because it is just."

The Prince des Boscenos expressed a contrary opinion. He thought that,
in order to triumph, just causes need force quite as much and even more
than unjust causes require it.

"In the present situation," said he tranquilly, "three methods of action
present themselves: to hire the butcher boys, to corrupt the ministers,
and to kidnap President Formose."

"It would be a mistake to kidnap Formose," objected M. de La Trumelle.
"The Pres