Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia

Crosses the P

Ricardo one morning, "her

sitting in the royal study. The letter, which Ricardo handed to Jaqueline, was written on a great broad shee

w the arms,"

our Heraldry! Old Green Stocking i

ief herald of Pantouflia, jus

yal Arms of England, y

I expect. It is in Latin, anyhow, I know. Mortuus est Rom?-'He died at Rome.' It's in the

Jaqueline, he spells it 'Prins;' now it is

should not throw stone

on earth can he be? Why does he not put 'P. W. Charles,' if these are his in

took the epis

all scented! The pape

r, whoever he is

ed. All the wurld has herd of the fame of Prins Ricardo, whose name is feerd, and his sord dreded, wherever there are Monsters and Tirants. Prins, you may be l

d of it," s

y. He goes on: 'and I am told that I did not mis

did not kill the spider, but he cracked the head of Sir Harry

ondent seems to be

y father would go to war with somebody. With the Sword

Gems, being druv into exile by a crewl Usurper, the Elector of Hannover. King Gems is old, and likes a quiat life; but I am determined to make an effort, if I go alone, and Europe shall here of Prince Charles. Having heard-as

re

and de

rles,

ueline. "He is turned out of England you

big game is getting shy, and my sword rusts in his scabbard. I'll tell you what, Jack-I've an idea! I'll put him on the throne of his fathers; it's as easy as shelling peas: and as for that ot

the magic spy-glass, and looked up London

ut how do you

fly to London, clap the Cap of Darkness on him so that nobody can see him, set him down on the throne of his fathers; pick up the

on't like Prince Char

oung fellow like that! Besides, I'll tak

er to meddle in the affairs of other countries, and n

will approve of the principle of the thing. Kings must stick up for eac

sort of king who is kick

made his simple preparations, and announce

made up her mind quickly, while Dick was putting his things together. She told the queen (it was the nearest to the truth she could think of) that she "was going for a turn with Dick." Then she changed herself into a mosquito-a kind of gnat that bites-and

t white wig. He was splendidly dressed in a light-blue silk coat; a delicate little lace scarf was tied round his neck; he had lace ruffles falling about his little ringed hands; he had a pretty sword, with a gold handle set with diamonds-in fact, he was the picture of a little dandy. The other lad had a broad Scotch bonnet on, and no wig; beautiful silky yellow locks fell about his shoulders. He had laid his sword on the grass. He was dr

up to this boy, took

honour of addressing

g riding-boots, girt with a broadsword, which was not the

me the title which is mine by right. May I inquire the reas

ick. "I had a letter from you this morn

Prince Charles; "why, that

ck; "but a mere step when you we

, indeed, worthy of your reputation; and these are the celebrated Seven-league Boots? Harry," he cried to his brother, "come here at once and let me presen

ed in the most

d of royal conversation, "what's that game you were playing

le, whom I soon hope to lead to a glorious victory, followed by a peaceful and prosperous reign, I am acquiring a difficult art. I'm practising walking without stockings, too, to

cerity; "but I don't think, with me on your side, you will

"The task of conquering back the throne of my f

ny difficult things,

ew when he had Enough, need not tell me that," said Prince Charles, wi

s much with my fairy things, of which, no doubt, you have heard. With a Sword of Sharp

sess those talisman

short a time I took in coming

iety, "given her sanction and her blessing to those ins

aid Prince Charles. "This is business.

onversion daily," s

ou know," answered Prince Charl

ecially against those brutes of Elector

ed with an Elector?"

answered Dick, who never could un

zled, but requested Dick

em how he meant to manage it, just as he had told

d, inducing Prince Charles to sit

St. James'

hing ha

gic carpet, but the one which K

land, I said

he chestnut tree, sitting on the

his feet; his face like

to mock at an unfortunate prince. Take your carpet and be off wit

d; "the wrong carpet has been brought by a

ess the Pope, and the relics of so many martyrs and saints

ir! Leave my presence!" cried Pri

across his knee as fine a driver as ever c

, sir! Draw and defend yourself!" he said, kicking

on from a fold in Prince Ricardo's dress! What could the girl do to save the life

e sunlight, and he fell on guard in the most elegant

, but, as suddenly,

this! This is the Sword of Sharpness; it would

ed, and

Duke of York, who was in a terrible taking, "to len

ing with the point of his sword on the ground, and the

ick took it, made a nourish,

the good of it," he used to ask, "all that stamping, and postur

harpness; so on he came, waving the rapier like a c

d, parried in prime, riposted,

King James on his royal nose. The king wakened, nearly crushed the princess (so dangerous is the practice of magic to the a

d the old king, in French and English; and then h

narmed man. A prince you may be, but you h

. "Swords out! brawling in my very presence! bloo

possible, explained the unusua

g James. "What reply have you, sir, to

tory. I can say no more, beyond offering my apology for a disappointment which I could not have foreseen. A gentleman can only say that he is sorry. But wait!" he added; "I can at leas

ven-league Boots, which he had kicked off to fight more freely,

is Majesty, "Lord

s he live?

Scotland," answ

d in ten minutes was back, bearing a large ram's-horn snuff-b

shing!" said

" said the

t. Your nobility in not using your magical sword, under the greatest provocation, reconciles me to this fresh blighting of my h

nto each ot

not be ungrateful. With any blade a gentleman should be able to hold

in a stricken field. We shall not part till I have induced you to accept a sword which I ca

ruby-studded hilt of his rapier, which

id King James; "the hilt hold

to wield; and I entreat you to honour me by receiving this fairy gift-

owed, and placed the

farewell of the royal party, and, with Jaqueline still hidden under his collar, returned at full s

again, but his ring proved very useful to Pr