ringing up a king!"

"Send a boy round with a note then," he suggested, "or shall I stroll
round to the palace and let them know? I'd just as soon. It's only a
few minutes' walk."

"I will write," she decided, "but there is no hurry. We will go out
for a walk presently and look at these dear, quaint little shops.
There are heaps of things I want to buy."

Mr. Van Decht rose suddenly from his chair.

"Jehosophat!" he cried. "What's that?"

It was a horse-car, old-fashioned, rickety, with canvas awnings, drawn
wearily along by an aged horse. Mr. Van Decht eyed it with vast
curiosity.

"Jehosophat," he repeated. "I'd like to take that whole affair right
back with us and sell it to the first dime museum that'd give the
price. Look at the bonnet on the horse's head, Sara, and the bell! My,
how she bumps! I must have a talk with your King, Sara. My
number-three installation is what is wanted here with overhead wires
and forty Cambridge wagons. With cheap labour and water transport I
guess it would be a light contract. I'm going to board the next that
comes along, Sara, and get the thing into my head."

"The streets look very narrow and hilly for cars, father."

"Guess the whole place wants straightening out a bit," Mr. Van Decht
admitted. "If your King wants to make this place go, Sara, he's got
to imbibe a few Western notions, and the sooner the better."

"You shall talk to him," Sara remarked, with a little smile at the
corner of her lips. "I am sure that he will be interested."

"I guess I can give him some ideas," Mr. Van Decht remarked, puffing
vigorously at his cigar. "You'd better write that note, Sara."

"In a moment, father. It's so fascinating to watch these country
people with their baskets. Look! There is something you can't beat in
New York, anyhow."

Up the steep, narrow road came a company of horse-soldiers--a gay
sight--in flashing helmets, plumes, and the soft blue uniform of the
Thetian Guards. A band up at the palace played them in. The people
rushed to the right and to the left, lined the pavements and shouted a
greeting. Then suddenly every head was uncovered, and a little
respectful murmur rippled through the crowd.

"The King! Long live the King!"

Sara rose eagerly from her place at the table. They were virtually
upon the pavement--a little extended near the hotel and dotted about
with tiny round tables. It was Ughtred who rode at the head of the
little troop of soldiers, and sudden