othing; but, as he went to a
stone table in the centre of the room and touched an electric button,
a grand view of green fields, forests, streams, lakes and farm-houses
flashed upon the mirror. The king laughed at their surprise and touched
another button. As he did so the scene shifted gradually; the landscapes
ran by like a panorama. A pretty village came into sight, and passed;
then a larger town and still a larger; then fields, hills and valleys
and forests of giant trees.

"It is that way all over my kingdom," said the king; "in an hour I can
inspect it all."

"But how is it done?" asked Thorndyke, forgetting himself in wonder.

"Through a telescopic invention, aided by electricity and the clearness
of our atmosphere," replied the king. "It would take too long to go
into the details. The views, however, are reflected to this point
from various observatories throughout the land. Such a system would be
impossible in any other country on account of the clouds and atmospheric
changes; but here we control everything."

"I noticed," returned the Englishman, "that green fields lie beside
ripening ones and those in which the grain is being harvested."

"We have no change of seasons," answered the king. "Change of seasons
may be according to nature, but it is in the province of man's intellect
to improve on nature. But I must leave you now; I shall summon you again
when I have the leisure to continue our conversation."

"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Johnston, as the king disappeared
behind a curtain in the direction of the audience chamber.

"I give it up; I only know that the old fellow's daughter, the Princess
Bernardino is the most beautiful, the most bewitching creature that ever
breathed. Did you notice her eyes and form? Great heavens! was there
ever such a vision of human loveliness? Her grace, her voice, her
glances drove me wild with delight."

"You are dead gone," grumbled the American despondently; "we'll never
get away from here in the world. I can see that."

"I gave up all hope in that direction some time ago," said Thorndyke;
"and why should we care? We were awfully bored with life before we came;
for my part I'd as soon end mine up here as anywhere else. Besides,
didn't his majesty say that they live longer under his system than we
do?"

"I don't take stock in all he says," growled the American; "he talks
like a Chicago real estate agent who wants to sell a lot. Why doesn't he
chop off o