d. It is true she cannot
get at Pantouflia very easily; we have no sea-coast, and we are
surrounded by friendly countries. But it would have been a ticklish and
discreditable position. I must really speak to Dick," which he did next
morning after breakfast.

"You have broken my rules, Ricardo," he said. "True, there is no great
harm done, and you have confessed frankly; but how am I to trust you any
longer?"

"I'll give you my sacred word of honour, father, that I'll never meddle
with politics again, or start on an expedition, without telling you. I
have had enough of it. And I'll turn over a new leaf. I've learned to
be ashamed of my ignorance; and I've sent for Francalanza, and I'll fence
every day, and read like anything."

"Very good," said the king. "I believe you mean what you say. Now go to
your fencing lesson."

"But, I say, father," cried Ricardo, "was it not strange about the magic
carpet?"

"I told you not to trust to these things," said the king. "Some
enchanter may have deprived it of its power, it may be worn out, someone
may have substituted a common Persian rug; anything may happen. You
_must_ learn to depend on yourself. Now, be off with you, I'm busy. And
remember, you don't stir without my permission."

The prince ran off, and presently the sounds of stamping feet and "_un_,
_deux_; _doublez_, _degagez_, _vite_; _contre de carte_," and so forth,
might be heard over a great part of the royal establishment.

CHAPTER VII.
Prince Ricardo and an Old Enemy.

{The Yellow Dwarf: p123.jpg}

"There is one brute I wish I could get upsides with," said Ricardo, at
breakfast one morning, his mouth full of sardine.

"Really, Ricardo, your language is most unprincely," said his august
father; "I am always noticing it. You mean, I suppose, that there is one
enemy of the human race whom you wish to abolish. What is the name of
the doomed foe?"

"Well, he is the greatest villain in history," said Ricardo. "You must
have read about him, sir, the Yellow Dwarf."

"Yes, I have certainly studied what is told us about him," said the king.
"He is no favourite of mine."

"He is the only one, if you notice, sir, of all the scoundrels about whom
our ancestors inform us, who escaped the doom which he richly merited at
the sword of a good knight."

You may here remark that, since Dick took to his studies, he could speak,
when he chose, like a printed book, which was by no means the case
b