The great square was black with citizens, and from it rose a faint but angry drone that was unpleasantly suggestive of the results of pitching a large stone into a hornets' nest. "I expect," remarked Queen Selina, "they're all busy discussing this engagement of Clarence's. If we drive out this afternoon we mustn't forget to take at _least_ two sacks of gold with us." "I doubt if we can afford to drive out at _all_ just now," said Edna. "Perhaps," agreed her mother, "it _would_ be wiser to wait till things have settled down a little. Why they should get so excited about it I can't think. It's _most_ inconsiderate and troublesome of them--at a time, too, when, goodness knows, I've enough to worry about!" Just then she was chiefly harassed by a doubt whether she had been wholly wise in accepting the Marshal as a confederate, and especially in committing her secret instructions to writing. What if he knew or guessed her real reasons for getting rid of Miss Heritage? But, even if that were so, he had probably acted as he had out of goodwill and desire to maintain the dynasty. He had never shown the slightest jealousy or chagrin at having been deprived of the Regency. No, on the whole, she thought he could be trusted to be silent--if only because he could not betray her without admitting his own complicity. Still, there was a danger that he might presume on his knowledge--which would be disagreeable enough. If their Majesties were reluctant to show themselves just then to the populace, the populace on the other hand were determined to be both seen and heard. The proclamation of Clarence's betrothal had served as the breaking strain to the attenuated links that still attached them to the Throne. They had murmured against the enfranchisement of the Yellow Gnomes; their deception in the matter of the self-supplying tables had weakened their loyalty seriously for a time; the projected alliance of the Princess Edna with the surviving member of a race whose scutcheon bore the taint of Ogreism had aroused their bitter resentment. But all these grievances had been redressed, and the amiable easygoing Maerchenlanders were willing to forgive and forget them. Now they were called upon to put up with a humiliation beyond all endurance. The prospect of seeing the throne occupied in days to come by a creature who was not only of dubious extraction, but probably did not possess so much as the rudiments of a soul, infuriated them to madness. So much so that the Royal Family had scarcely finished lunch when they were startled by news that the people were once more advancing _en masse_ up the road to the Palace, and would soon be battering at the gates for admittance. "I can't see 'em," said King Sidney peevishly, plucking at his auburn moustache. "What am I to say to them about this engagement? There's nothing _to_ say except that it's most----" "If you say that again, Sidney," said the Queen, "I shall throw something at you! Tell them the truth."