"A most deserving woman, your Royal Highness. If she is the woman I'm thinking of, a most deserving person, to whom the money will be more than welcome. Her poem shows a sense of values combined with--er--breadth, and--er--distance, such as I have seldom seen equalled. The--er--technique is only excelled by the--shall I say?--tempermentality, the boldness of the colouring, by the--how shall I put it?--the firmness of the outline. In short----" "In short," said the Princess, "you like it." "Your Royal Highness, it is unique. But naturally you will wish to hear it for yourself. It is only some twelve hundred lines long. I will declaim it to your Royal Highness." She held the manuscript out at the full length of her left arm, struck an attitude with the right arm, and began in her most thrilling voice: "_King Merriwig the First rode out to war,_ _As many other kings----_" "Yes, Countess, but another time. I am busy this afternoon. As you know, I think, the Prince Udo of Araby arrives to-morrow, and----" Belvane's lips were still moving, and her right arm swayed up and down. "_What gladsome cheers assailed the balmy air!_" she murmured to herself, and her hand when up to heaven. "_They come from north, from south_" (she pointed in the directions mentioned), "_from everywhere. No wight that stood----_" "He will be received privately up here by myself in the first place, and afterwards----" "_Could gaze upon the sight unmoved, I wot_," whispered Belvane, and placed her hand upon her breast to show that anyhow it had been too much for _her_. "_Why do they march so----_ I beg your Royal Highness's pardon. I was so carried away by this wonderful poem. I do beg of your Royal Highness to read it." The Princess waved the manuscript aside. "I am not unmindful of the claims of literature, Countess, and I shall certainly read the poem another time. Meanwhile I can, I hope, trust you to see that the prize is awarded to the rightful winner. What I am telling you now is that the Prince Udo is arriving to-morrow." Belvane looked innocently puzzled. "Prince Udo--Udo--would that be Prince Udo of Carroway, your Royal Highness? A tall man with three legs?" "Prince Udo of Araby," said Hyacinth severely. "I think I have already mentioned him to your ladyship. He will make a stay of some months." "But how _delightful_, your Royal Highness, to see a man again! We were all getting so dull together! We want a man to wake us up a little, don't we, Wiggs? I will go and give orders about his room at once, your Royal Highness. You will wish him to be in the Purple Room, of course?" That settled it. "He will be in the Blue Room," said Hyacinth decidedly. "Certainly, your Royal Highness. Fancy, Wiggs, a man again! I will go and see about it now, if I may have your Royal Highness's leave to withdraw?" A little mystified by Belvane's manner, Hyacinth inclined her head, and the Countess withdrew. CHAPTER XI