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nd the mane it is difficult to say what he was, save that there was an impression of magnificence about his person--such magnificence, anyhow, as is given by an astrakhan-trimmed fur coat. Coronel decided that it was an occasion for tact. "Ah, here you are," he said cheerfully. "Shall we get along?" "Don't be a fool, Coronel," said Udo, almost crying. "Don't pretend that you can't _see_ that I've got a tail." "Why, bless my soul, so you have. A tail! Well, think of that!" Udo showed what he thought of it by waving it peevishly. "This is not a time for tact," he said. "Tell me what I look like." Coronel considered for a moment. "Really frankly?" he asked. "Y--yes," said Udo nervously. "Then, frankly, your Royal Highness looks--funny." "_Very_ funny?" said Udo wistfully. "_Very_ funny," said Coronel. His Highness sighed. "I was afraid so," he said. "That's the cruel part about it. Had I been a lion there would have been a certain pathetic splendour about my position. Isolated--cut off--suffering in regal silence." He waved an explanatory paw. "Even in the most hideous of beasts there might be a dignity." He meditated for a moment. "Have you ever seen a yak, Coronel?" he asked. "Never." "I saw one once in Barodia. It is not a beautiful animal, Coronel; but as a yak I should not have been entirely unlovable. One does not laugh at a yak, Coronel, and where one does not laugh one may come to love. . . . What does my head look like?" "It looks--striking." "I haven't seen it, you see." "To one who didn't know your Royal Highness it would convey the impression of a rabbit." Udo laid his head between his paws and wept. "A r--rabbit!" he sobbed. So undignified, so lacking in true pathos, so---- And not even a whole rabbit," he added bitterly. "How did it happen?" "I don't know, Coronel. I just went to sleep, and woke up feeling rather funny, and----" He sat up suddenly and stared at Coronel. "It was that old woman did it. You mark my words, Coronel; she did it." "Why should she?" "I don't know. I was very polite to her. Don't you remember my saying to you, 'Be polite to her, because she's probably a fairy!' You see, I saw through her disguise at once. Coronel, what shall we do? Let's hold a council of war and think it over." So they held a council of war. Prince Udo put forward two suggestions. The first was that Coronel should go back on th
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