leman-in-waiting, and ask him to tell the page to tell the butler
to send a servant with some wine. Or, stay! I'd like to taste the
national beverage, whatever it may be."

So the chamberlain told the first gentleman-in-waiting to tell the page
to tell the butler to tell a servant to ask some one for the national
beverage. The servant returned from a confectioner's shop, and told the
butler, who told the page, who told the first gentleman-in-waiting, who
told the chamberlain, that the people generally drank lemonade, but, on
account of the celebration of the princess's birthday, none was to be
had.

"There is some mistake!" cried the prince, who was tired and a little
cross, and very thirsty; "there is some mistake! The princess's
birthday will be the day after to-morrow, the date for which we were
invited. Go and find out the meaning of this riddle."

Soon the chamberlain returned, bringing the confectioner with him.

"My lord," says he, "this man tells so strange a story, that I have
brought him here lest you should suspect me of falsehood. He declares
that he has furnished confections, creams, and fruits for the
princess's birthday, forty-one distinct individual times."

"It is the truth, my lord," said the confectioner.

"It cannot be!" gasped the prince. "Make further inquiries. Tell the
chamberlain to tell the gentleman-in-waiting to tell the page to tell
the--ah! I am deathly faint. Forty-one, and I but twenty last month!"

Voices were heard and approaching footsteps. The chamberlain had
brought six reverend men, dignitaries of the town, all of whom
testified that on forty-one several occasions the birthday of the
princess had been celebrated.

"It is enough! In fact, too much!" cried the prince. "We return
immediately. This insult shall not pass unavenged."

So all the horses turned their heads where their tails had been; the
musicians changed their tune from "See, the conquering hero comes" to
"Take me home to die;" and the prince returned whence he came.

The king, his father, was not so wroth as the prince had expected.

"I have been wrong," said he. "The prince is 'O'er young to marry yet,'
while I have been a widower for many years, and perhaps should marry
first and set him an example. If the match proves unfortunate, I shall
not have so long to endure it, from the difference in our ages. From my
experience, he may learn wisdom. Yes, like a true father, I will
sacrifice myself. It is I who shal