hat I was Queen Amy's friend,
and fearing that I might help her to escape he had me brought here,
where I have been ever since.

"As soon as Queen Amy was captured her cousin Bethel took the throne,
and it was to her that I was sent as a servant. How she treated me you
can see for yourselves. I have had to do the meanest work, live in
this cellar, wear what clothes she threw to me, and eat what I could
get from the cook, who on days when she was very cross would give me
nothing at all."

"Poor child, poor child," said Prince Redmond.

"And where is Princess Bethel now?" asked Daimur.

"And what has happened to the furniture, and all the plate and china,
my dear?" asked the Duchess in a teary voice.

"I am just coming to that part, if you please, madam," answered the
Princess.

"At night, when the servants were talking in the kitchen I used to sit
behind the cellar door and then I heard all that was said. One night
they whispered to each other that the pirate king had come back and
that he threatened instant invasion if he did not get more money.
Princess Bethel had sent him all she had in the palace and he went away.

"That kept him off for a time, but before long he came again and then
kept on coming more and more frequently until there was scarcely an
article of value in the palace that had not been sent to him, or sold
to get money to keep him quiet. Princess Bethel was very miserable
indeed, and taxed her subjects until they were all reduced to beggary
in order to get the money to give him.

"I could not help feeling rather sorry for her, it was such a dreadful
existence. The servants had to be dismissed one after another until
there was no one to wait upon her but me, and my! How she did scold!

"At last the pirate came just a few nights ago and marching up to the
palace gates demanded the chest of gold, which he had evidently just
heard about.

"Bethel would gladly have given it to him if she could have moved it,
and told him so, at which he and a great many rough sailors tramped
into the palace and down these stairs and tried their best to pry it up
with crowbars, but with no success of course. When he found he really
could not take it, he was so angry that he kidnapped Princess Bethel,
saying he would keep her in a dungeon until she found the key for him.

"I was in the darkest corner when the pirates came and kept hidden
until they went away. Since then I have not dared to go any further
t