s to-night. As to the Fairy of the Desert,"
he said, forgetting that his Wishing Cap was on, "I wish she were dead!"

A hollow groan and the sound of a heavy body falling interrupted the
king. He looked all about the room, but saw nothing. He was alone!

"She must have been in the room, invisible," said the king; and, of
course, she has died in that condition. "But I must find her body!"

The king groped about everywhere, like a blind man, and at last
discovered the dead body of the wicked fairy lying on the sofa. He could
not see it, of course, but he felt it with his hands.

"This is very awkward," he remarked. "I cannot ring for the servants and
make them take her away. There is only one plan."

So he wished she were in her family pyramid, in the Egyptian desert, and
in a second the sofa was unoccupied.

"A very dangerous and revengeful enemy is now removed from Ricardo's path
in life," said his Majesty, and went to dress for dinner.

Meanwhile Ricardo was riding gaily home. The yellow light of Jaunia had
vanished, and pure blue sky broke overhead as soon as the dauntless Dwarf
had drawn his latest breath. The poor, trembling people of the country
came out of their huts and accompanied Dick, cheering, and throwing roses
which had been yellow roses, but blushed red as soon as the Dwarf
expired. They attended him to the frontiers of Pantouflia, singing his
praises, which Ricardo had the new and inestimable pleasure of knowing to
be deserved.

"It was sharp work," he said to himself, "but much more exciting and
glorious than the usual business."

On his return Dick did not fail to mention the wasp, and again the king
felt how great was his debt to Jaqueline. But they did not think it well
to trouble the good queen with the dangers Dick had encountered.

CHAPTER VIII.
The Giant who does not know when he has had Enough. {146}

{The enormous letter: p146.jpg}

One morning the post brought a truly enormous letter for Dick. It was as
broad as a table-cloth, and the address was written in letters as long as
a hoop-stick. "I seem to know that hand," said Ricardo; "but I thought
the fingers which held the pen had long been cold in death."

He opened, with his sword, the enormous letter, which was couched in the
following terms:

"The Giant as does not know when he has had _enuf_, presents his
compliments to Prince Ricardo; and I, having recovered from the
effects of our little recen