The visitors then inspected the furnace where the ore was melted, and the Mint where it was stamped into big fat coins. These were put up in sacks for transmission to the Royal Treasury, but, as a fresh batch had been delivered only recently, the supply in hand at the Mint was not very large just then. "I _did_ like those Gnomes!" said Princess Ruby on the way home. "Didn't _you_, Mummy?" "I should have liked them better, my dear, if they had been more like fellow-Christians. Sidney, I shall _insist_ on their wearing some civilised costume." "By all means, my love, if we continue to employ them. But I rather think it would be better to get rid of them altogether." "Get _rid_ of them, Sidney? What in the world _for_?" "Well, you see, my dear, at the last General Election I took a somewhat prominent part in denouncing the Conservatives for employing Chinese labour in the South African mines. It would be very awkward if people at Gablehurst found out that our entire income was derived from--er--'Yellow Slavery.'" "Stuff and nonsense, Sidney! Who do you suppose is likely to _tell_ them?" "You never know how things get about," he said uneasily. "And, as a consistent Radical, it--it goes against my conscience." "Conscience, indeed! My dear good Sidney, if you go and get rid of those Gnomes, who seem perfectly happy and contented, there'll be no one to dig the gold!" "We could hire full-grown white labourers, my dear. Of course at a living wage, but, as they would work more systematically, they would obtain a far larger output, so we should make a handsome profit by the change." "Ah, when you put it like _that_, Sidney, it makes all the difference. I could see for myself that those hideous little horrors weren't taking their work seriously." "There's to be a State Council to-morrow morning," said the King. "It would be a good opportunity to inform them that we do not intend to countenance slavery any longer." "That ought to have an excellent effect," Queen Selina replied. "I shouldn't wonder if it made us more popular than ever.... Why, we're back in the city already!... How delighted the dear people seem to see us!... Yes, Children, you can empty the sack. The love of one's subjects is well worth the money--and it's not as if we were ever likely to miss it!"