ed the king, eagerly.

"They're not for sale," said Rob. "This one of mine is the first that
ever happened."

"Oh!"

"I really think," continued the boy, nodding sagely, "that it wouldn't
be well to have these Records scattered around. Their use would give
some folks unfair advantage over others, you know."

"Certainly."

"I only showed you this battle because I happened to be in London at
the time and thought you'd be interested."

"It was very kind of you," said Edward; "but how did you gain
admittance?"

"Well, to tell the truth, I was obliged to knock over a few of your
tall life-guards. They seem to think you're a good thing and need
looking after, like jam in a cupboard."

The king smiled.

"I hope you haven't killed my guards," said he.

"Oh, no; they'll come around all right."

"It is necessary," continued Edward, "that public men be protected from
intrusion, no matter how democratic they may be personally. You would
probably find it as difficult to approach the President of the United
States as the King of England."

"Oh, I'm not complaining," said Rob. "It wasn't much trouble to break
through."

"You seem quite young to have mastered such wonderful secrets of
Nature," continued the king.

"So I am," replied Rob, modestly; "but these natural forces have really
existed since the beginning of the world, and some one was sure to
discover them in time." He was quoting the Demon, although
unconsciously.

"You are an American, I suppose," said the minister, coming close to
Rob and staring him in the face.

"Guessed right the first time," answered the boy, and drawing his
Character Marking spectacles from his pocket, he put them on and stared
at the minister in turn.

Upon the man's forehead appeared the letter "E."

"Your Majesty," said Rob, "I have here another queer invention. Will
you please wear these spectacles for a few moments?"

The king at once put them on.

"They are called Character Markers," continued the boy, "because the
lenses catch and concentrate the character vibrations radiating from
every human individual and reflect the true character of the person
upon his forehead. If a letter 'G' appears, you may be sure his
disposition is good; if his forehead is marked with an 'E' his
character is evil, and you must beware of treachery."

The king saw the "E" plainly marked upon his minister's forehead, but
he said nothing except "Thank you," and returned the spectacles