This is a painful chapter for me to write. Mercifully it is to be a short one. Later on I shall become used to the situation; inclined, even, to dwell upon its humorous side; but for the moment I cannot see beyond the sadness of it. That to a Prince of the Royal House of Araby, and such an estimable young man as Udo, those things should happen. Roger Scurvilegs frankly breaks down over it. "That abominable woman," he says (meaning, of course, Belvane), and he has hysterics for more than a page. Let us describe it calmly. Coronel came back from his stroll in the same casual way in which he had started and dropped down lazily upon the grass to wait until Udo was ready to mount. He was not thinking of Udo. He was wondering if Princess Hyacinth had an attendant of surpassing beauty, or a dragon of surpassing malevolence--if, in fact, there were any adventures in Euralia for a humble fellow like himself. "Coronel!" said a small voice behind him. He turned round indifferently. "Hullo, Udo, where are you?" he said. "Isn't it time we were starting?" "We aren't starting," said the voice. "What's the matter? What are you hiding in the bushes for? Whatever's the matter, Udo?" "I'm not very well." "My poor Udo, what's happened?" He jumped up and made towards him. "Stop!" shrieked the voice. "I command you!" Coronel stopped. "Your Royal Highness's commands," he began rather coldly---- There was an ominous sniffing from the bushes. "Coronel," said an unhappy voice at last, "I think I'm coming out." Wondering what it all meant, Coronel waited in silence. "Yes, I am coming out, Coronel," said the voice. "But you mustn't be surprised if I don't look very well. I'm--I'm--Coronel, here I am," said Udo pathetically and he stepped out. Coronel didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Poor Prince Udo! [Illustration: _"Coronel, here I am," said Udo pathetically, and he stepped out_] He had the head and the long ears of a rabbit, and in some unfortunate way a look of the real Prince Udo in spite of it. He had the mane and the tail of a lion. In between the tail and the mane it is difficult to say what he was, save that there was an impression of magnificence about his person--such magnificence, anyhow, as is given by an astrakhan-trimmed fur coat. Coronel decided that it was an occasion for tact. "Ah, here you are," he said cheerfully. "Shall we get along?" "Don't be a fool, Coronel," said Udo, almost crying. "Don't pretend that you can't _see_ that I've got a tail." "Why, bless my soul, so you have. A tail! Well, think of that!" Udo showed what he thought of it by waving it peevishly. "This is not a time for tact," he said. "Tell me what I look like." Coronel considered for a moment. "Really frankly?" he asked. "Y--yes," said Udo nervously. "Then, frankly, your Royal Highness looks--funny." "_Very_ funny?" said Udo wistfully. "_Very_ funny," said Coronel. His Highness sighed.