This was highly embarrassing, he thought, though he felt thankful that his Godmother had not had time to make him recognisable. "My name, your Royal Highness," he replied, "is Girofle. I have the honour to be one of his Majesty's under-gardeners." "Oh," said Edna, "one of _them_? Really. Well, you have behaved most creditably--very creditably indeed. I really don't know _what_ mightn't have happened if you hadn't arrived just then. I have never been in such a trying situation before. And, even as it is," she added, "there doesn't seem to be any means of getting _out_ of this odious place." By this time Tuetzi's death-throes were over; his body lay extended half across the Courtyard, while the head, after having bitten one or two of the carriage horses rather severely, had also ceased from troubling. "Perhaps," said Mirliflor, "your Royal Highness will condescend to make use of the dove-car which brought me here? It will carry you back in safety to the Palace." "It looks rather tit-uppy," said Edna, as the doves flew down with it at his call. "And it only holds one. How are you going to get away yourself?" "I shall order some of those varlets to open the gate," he said, "and they will be wise to obey." "Clarence's sword _is_ a great help!" said Edna. "Then--_you_ will be all right. And you may be sure that his Majesty will pay you a suitable reward." "The satisfaction of having been of any service to your Royal Highness," he said, "is reward enough in itself." "Oh, but that's such a _pose_!" said Edna. "Of _course_ you expect to be paid for it!... And you will be. Must I tell these birds where to take me?... I _see_. Then--Home, please!" And the doves, glad to escape from such uncongenial surroundings, whirred upwards with the car and, after a few tentative circles, took it clear over the battlements. As for the retainers, they waited for no order to unbar the gate for Mirliflor, being all eagerness to facilitate his departure. He strode unconcernedly out, and, finding a party of the Royal guard outside, he informed them that they would find one or two severed heads within if they cared to collect them, and then, borrowing a charger, he galloped off to Eswareinmal, impatient to know what had befallen Daphne. On the Palace terrace there had been a period of painful surprise. The Crown Prince was the first of the rescue party to return. He would have much preferred to do so by a back way, but, perceiving that he had been observed, took the manlier course. "Clarence!" shrieked the Queen as he limped up with his breastplate and hose covered with mire, a bent sword and badly dinted helmet, "is she saved?" "Couldn't tell you, Mater," he replied heavily. "I've done all I could, and so--and so I came back." "He's wounded!" cried Ruby tearfully. "Oh, Clarence, was it that horrid Tuetzi?" for she was effectually disillusioned at last. "No, Kiddie, no," he said, "_I'm_ all right. Took a bit of a toss, that's all."