hers,
off the stage. We were most particular, too. I assure you I never went
to sup alone with Nibbles--I call Muscombe 'Nibbles,' you know--he's so
exactly like a white mouse--I never supped with him alone till after we
were regularly engaged."

"That is most interesting," said the Duchess, "and entirely to your
credit, but it doesn't explain how we came to be here together."

"All I can say is that a queerly dressed old freak suddenly burst into
my flat, just as I was going to dine at the Carlton, and told me you
were waiting outside in a car to take me on a visit to the Queen."

"And did not that strike you as slightly improbable?"

"Oh, for anything _I_ knew, you might be another of Nibbles's aunts. I
haven't nearly worked through all his relations yet. But I said at once
that I couldn't throw over my Carlton party to oblige any Duchess on
earth. And then the old creature put on a cap and vanished. And the
_next_ thing I knew was that a cloak was thrown over my head and I was
being lifted up and bundled out kicking--and that's all I remember. I
don't know what they thought of me in Mount Street, or why nobody
interfered."

"Much the same thing happened to _me_," said the Duchess. "Only I was
told that the Queen wished to see me at once on an urgent matter. Of
course, as the messenger's appearance did not inspire me with
confidence, I insisted on seeing his credentials. And then he
disappeared, and I found myself caught up and carried off. I suppose
none of my people were in the hall, or else they were too afraid to come
to my rescue. And Stratford Place is very quiet, so my smothered cries
attracted no attention. Besides, I fancy I must have been chloroformed."

"I expect we both were. Nibbles would be furious if he knew--luckily he
doesn't. We had a tiff, and he went off to Monte, all on his little
lone. But I wish I had any idea where we are."

"I have certainly no recollection of ever having been in such a place as
this before in my life," said the Duchess.

Daphne returned in time to offer what explanations she could.

"I know it must seem a little strange at first," she said, coming
forward, "but this is the Palace of the Queen of Maerchenland."

"Maerchenland?" repeated the Duchess. "And where may _that_ be? Never
heard of such a country!"

"Well," said Daphne, "it's a long way from everywhere, and it's the
place where most of the stories one used to think were only Fairy Tales
really happened."