The Missing Prince

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ian Augustus Claudius Smith (called Thomas for short), who re

have me to wait upon you

?" inqui

," remarked the footman with his nose in the air. "Yo

hen?" he asked, forgetting that the Election did

n, "but I'm pretty sure to be,

" inqui

?|sar was a king, I've heard, and so was Augustus,

nd Claudius, were emperors of Rome, and Maximilian was Emperor of

ir?" asked the f

" replied Bo

d. What a pity! I've ordered my crown and things too," he continued. "Never mind! perhaps I may be e

at would be of much

ximilian Augustus Claudius Smith (called Thomas fo

at he might go and get them; and when he returned a few minutes later they were both solemnly fi

elected King, and the walls were covered with posters of all shapes and sizes begging for vo

them all?" exclaimed Boy

s," explained the man. "Now I don't promise anything at all, but you

d Boy. "I've a

od to me, then," and he hurried on to the

o escape down a by-street where there was scarcely any one to be seen, and where his

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r's Bill passed. He was a very tall boy and carried a butcher's tray on his shoulder. Of course, he

t means, please?" asked B

d?" asked the

oked to him very much like an inscription that he had once seen carved o

xclaimed the Butcher's Bill

that?" a

romise me your vote," s

eplied Boy, "but I'

lf," cried the rude Butcher's Bill, shouldering

ke nothing of them, though, and was just going to walk away when he saw th

"I want to speak to

de which led up to a large studio, in which he fou

on as he entered the door and

ur vote," they both e

quite tired of telling ever

er both looked greatly disappointed, and each

doing, please?

. "We're making advertisements. Have you finished that Poe

fusion, hastily screwing up some paper

ded the Advertiser G

e ball of paper, which the Adverti

xed yourself up so with the tea that one can't tell which is which. Just read this," an

ematta is a ve

ing for a King, oh,

other sorts; it's fl

charming King, I'm s

tzematta will

t is so nice-and

another King so

r on it (the tea

d," said Boy when he had finished

n?" he asked, walking over to where the Advertiser General was painting an enormous poster. "Why, you are as bad as I am,

t's Needles. T

table

General, throwing down his brush. "Well, it's evidently no use t

said Boy, "what those word

to stand on your head to read them properly. It's a capital idea. You see the great thing in advertising is to impress the advertisement on the

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that way," and the Advertiser General brought f

nteau?" exclaimed Boy. "I'm always hearing

ry serious matter for us at the time," said the Advertiser Gen

Oh, it was a grand time, I can tell you. The streets were decorated, and there were speeches and processions, and he was presented with the freedom o

f people being presented with addresses and things in gold caskets, and

, or how. You would never believe the commotion it caused. Both Kings were furious. King Robert declared that it must and should be found, and had an organised search made in every house in Zum. Not one w

in the Portman

r to be stuck about the town, and by a splendid piece of good fortune I thought of this system of advertising. It was great success and caus

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We never did, though, to this day," said the Advertiser General mournfully, "

was rather silly to make all t

ish the sentence cries

er General and the Public Rhymester rushed down the stairs and out into the road, and were soon lost to sight in the crowd. Boy followed as quickly as he could, for he wanted to hear who

ance, sir?" inquired a melancholy

don't know,"

hall be able to afford a crown and sceptr

provided for you if you were elec

she said to me, 'What a fine thing it would be if you were elected King!' so I voted for myself. I am rather sorry I d

t shout, and two o'clock struck from th

nounced that everybody had the same number of votes, so that they were all elected Kings; and it turned out afterwards that everybody but Boy and Caesar M

realised what had happened, and even the poor Shoemaker King stared in a haughty way at

the very Butcher's Bill that he had seen in the morning

ajesty's cheek I shall have to punch Your Majesty's ro

who had previously been

uld not bemean myself by condescending to fight with Your Majes

ing that he was a King himself under these circumstances; and it was not until he had tried to buy a penny bun, and had

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