by two splendid horses,
which were driven with great skill by a large spaniel. In this carriage
he continued his journey very comfortably, passing many similar
equipages upon the road, and being always most courteously saluted by
the spaniels who occupied them. At last they drove rapidly into a large
town, which Prince Mannikin had no doubt was the capital of the kingdom.
News of his approach had evidently been received, for all the
inhabitants were at their doors and windows, and all the little spaniels
had climbed upon the wall and gates to see him arrive. The Prince was
delighted with the hearty welcome they gave him, and looked round him
with the deepest interest. After passing through a few wide streets,
well paved, and adorned with avenues of fine trees, they drove into the
courtyard of a grand palace, which was full of spaniels who were
evidently soldiers. 'The King's body-guard,' thought the Prince to
himself as he returned their salutations, and then the carriage stopped,
and he was shown into the presence of the King, who lay upon a rich
Persian carpet surrounded by several little spaniels, who were occupied
in chasing away the flies lest they should disturb his Majesty. He was
the most beautiful of all spaniels, with a look of sadness in his large
eyes, which, however, quite disappeared as he sprang up to welcome
Prince Mannikin with every demonstration of delight; after which he made
a sign to his courtiers, who came one by one to pay their respects to
the visitor. The Prince thought that he would find himself puzzled as to
how he should carry on a conversation, but as soon as he and the King
were once more left alone, a Secretary of State was sent for, who wrote
from his Majesty's dictation a most polite speech, in which he regretted
much that they were unable to converse, except in writing, the language
of dogs being difficult to understand. As for the writing, it had
remained the same as the Prince's own.

Mannikin thereupon wrote a suitable reply, and then begged the King to
satisfy his curiosity about all the strange things he had seen and heard
since his landing. This appeared to awaken sad recollections in the
King's mind, but he informed the Prince that he was called King Bayard,
and that a Fairy, whose kingdom was next his own, had fallen violently
in love with him, and had done all she could to persuade him to marry
her; but that he could not do so, as he himself was the devoted lover of
the Queen