where he rode daily among his father's subjects that they might
have the pleasure of cheering him? How awkward for everybody!

On to Euralia then?

Why not? The Princess Hyacinth had called for him. What devotion it
showed if he came to her even now--in his present state of bad health!
She was in trouble: enchanters, wizards, what-nots. Already, then,
he had suffered in her service--so at least he would say, and so
possibly it might be. Coronel had thought him--funny; but women had
not much sense of humour as a rule. Probably as a child Hyacinth had
kept rabbits . . . or lambs. She would find him--strokable. . . .
And the lion in him . . . in his tail, his fierce mane . . . she would
find that inspiring. Women like to feel that there is something
fierce, untamable in the man they love; well, there it was.

It was not as if he had Coronel with him. Coronel and he (in his
present health) could never have gone into Euralia together; the
contrast was too striking; but he alone, Hyacinth's only help! Surely
she would appreciate his magnanimity.

Also, as he had told himself a moment ago, there was quite a chance
that it was a Euralian enchanter who had put this upon him--to prevent
him helping Hyacinth. If so, he had better go to Euralia in order to
deal with that enchanter. For the moment, he did not see exactly how
to deal with him, but no doubt he would think of some tremendously
cunning device later on.

To Euralia then with all dispatch.

He trotted off. As Coronel had said, they were evidently afraid of
him.

CHAPTER X

CHARLOTTE PATACAKE ASTONISHES THE CRITICS

The Lady Belvane sits in her garden. She is very happy. An enormous
quill-pen, taken from a former favourite goose and coloured red, is in
her right hand. The hair of her dark head, held on one side, touches
the paper whereon she writes, and her little tongue peeps out between
her red lips. Her left hand taps the table--one-two, one-two,
one-two, one-two, one-two. She is composing.

Wonderful woman!

You remember that scene with the Princess Hyacinth? "I feel we want a
little outside help in our affairs." A fortnight of suspense before
Prince Udo arrived. What had the ring done to him? At the best, even
if there would be no Udo at all to interfere, nevertheless she knew
that she had lost her footing at the Palace. She and the Princess
would now be open enemies. At the worst--those magic rings were so
untrustworthy!--a