he police."

"On the contrary," said Max, "I went to rescue a poor youth from their
clutches."

"Good gracious me!" cried the King, horror-struck.

"Oh, they were quite right to arrest him, but having arrested him, they
proceeded to assault him; and when I interfered they assaulted me. And
had I not been the person I am, with detectives at my heels to vouch for
me, I should have been doing a fortnight hard for interfering with the
police in the execution of their duty."

"But I heard it was a beer-bottle thrown by one of the rioters!"

"Oh, no; a truncheon,--having I believe your image and superscription
stamped somewhere upon it. Your own mark, sir." And Max pointed to the
scar upon his head. "When I, in turn, have to wear the crown its rim
will probably rest on that very spot. What a coincidence that will be!"

"Max, this is really too bad of you!" said his father.

"It comes of trying to mix with the people."

"Well, you shouldn't; for we can't do it."

"Not without paying the price. I have, and it was worth it."

"What good has it done you?"

"Can you not see how it has steadied me? You behold here a reformed
character who is now only waiting for his father's blessing to lead a
good and holy life ever after. Oh, yes, I know what you have come about,
sir; my mother has been at me, the Archbishop has been at me,--you have
all of you been at me one time or another; and so far as I am concerned,
if we can only agree upon who the lady is to be, I am ready to marry her
to-morrow."

Then, perceiving a terror in his father's eye (for the Queen had
breathed in his ear some word of her apprehensions), Max, divining its
cause, spoke to reassure him. "No," said he, "it is not the Countess;
she had thrown me over, and is now only a second mother to me. This was
largely of her mending." He again pointed to the scar. "Can such things
be done, you wonder, in a second establishment? Well, remember it is now
only a mausoleum. For three weeks I have lain there like a mummy with my
head swathed in bandages."

"Max, I wish you would not talk like that," said the King. "I wanted to
speak seriously to you."

"And I to you," answered Max. "But when I start I shall only shock you
more."

"Well, we had better get it over, then. Say the most serious thing you
have to say, and be done with it!"

Then Prince Max drew a bold breath. "Conditionally upon your consent,
sir"--he began--"(I myself regret the condition, but on that