"Ah, but wait. 'Indeed there is something,' said the other bird. 'There is a big sack in the coach, and I know what is _inside_ the sack, too.' 'And what may that be?' the second one asked. 'All I can tell you,' said the first, 'is that, if the Princess only knew as much about it as I do, there wouldn't be any marriage!' They flew away after that, but I've been wondering ever since whether he mayn't have murdered somebody." "If he had," said the Fairy, "he wouldn't be very likely to bring the body out to lunch with him. You shouldn't be so uncharitable, my child. And, as for birds, I should have thought you knew what busy-bodies they are, and what scandals they make out of nothing at all." "Then you think it's all right?" said Daphne, relieved. "But all the same, I can't trust the Count." "Nobody asks you to. I don't trust him myself, if it comes to that. But, whatever he may or may not be is no affair of yours or mine. Princess Edna will find out in time what a mistake she has made." "If only she doesn't find it out too late!" said Daphne. "She'll have herself to thank, whatever happens. _I_ shan't interfere again. I'm tired of trying to help anyone. I never get anything but ingratitude for it." CHAPTER XIV BAG AND BAGGAGE The Court Godmother returned to the Throne-room. She had not attached much importance to what Daphne had told her, but, even if she had, she would have belittled it in her extreme desire to avoid any action that might entail inconvenience to herself. In the Throne-room, Count Rubenfresser had just been announced. "Yes, Duchess," said Queen Selina, in answer to an astonished inquiry. "That is dear Edna's fiance. A fine young man, is he not?" "Heavens! I should think he _was_! I should call him a giant myself," replied the Duchess bluntly. "I _told_ you he was _rather_ tall. I think he's grown since his engagement. How do you do, my dear Ruprecht? Come and be introduced to my old friend the Duchess of Gleneagles, who is _so_ very anxious to make your acquaintance." "I don't much care about knowing old women," said the Count, who had no great love for his future mother-in-law, and had become much less deferential of late. "But this one's a _Duchess_, Ruprecht!" whispered the agonised Queen. "Edna, my love, perhaps _you_ had better----" and eventually he submitted with a slight scowl to be led up and presented by his fiancee. "I hear I am to congratulate you--er--Count Fresser," said the Duchess. "You are certainly a fortunate man to have won a Princess." "Not more fortunate than she," he replied. "She wanted a Superman, as she calls it. I am doing all I can to become one." "If she isn't satisfied with you as you are, she must be hard to please." "_She_ is satisfied enough," he said. "Now it is for her to _please_ me. She knows that by this time--don't you, Edna?"