"I hardly looked at her," he said. And he added with a deep bow, "Naturally when your Royal Highness--oh, I beg your pardon, are my ears in your way?" "It's all right," said Hyacinth, rearranging her hair. "Well, it was because of that woman that I sent for you." "But I can't marry her like this, your Royal Highness." Hyacinth turned a startled face towards him. Udo perceived that he had blundered. To hide his confusion he took another sandwich and ate it very quickly. "I want your help against her," said Hyacinth, a little distantly; "she is plotting against me." "Oh, your Royal Highness, now I see," said Udo, and he wagged his head as much as to say, "You've come to the right man this time." [Illustration: _"Now we can talk," said Hyacinth_] "I don't trust her," said Hyacinth impressively. "Well, now, Princess, I'm not surprised. I'll tell you something about that woman." "Oh, what?" "Well, when I was announced just now, what happened? You, yourself, Princess, were not unnaturally a little alarmed; those two little girls were surprised and excited; but what of this Countess Belvane? What did _she_ do?" "What _did_ she do?" "Nothing," said Udo impressively. "She was neither surprised nor alarmed." "Why, now I come to think of it, I don't believe she was." "And yet," said Udo half pathetically, half proudly, "Princes don't generally look like this. Now, why wasn't she surprised?" Hyacinth looked bewildered. "Did she know you were sending for me?" Udo went on. "Yes." "Because you had found out something about her?" "Yes." "Then depend upon it, _she's_ done it. _What_ a mind that woman must have!" "But how could she do it?" exclaimed Hyacinth. "Of course it's just the sort of thing she _would_ do if she could." Udo didn't answer. He was feeling rather annoyed with Belvane, and had got off his seat and was trotting up and down so as not to show his feelings before a lady. "How _could_ she do it?" implored Hyacinth. "Oh, she's in with some enchanter or somebody," said Udo impatiently as he trotted past. Suddenly he had an idea. He stopped in front of her. "If only I were _sure_ I was a lion." He tried to roar, exclaimed hastily that it was only a practice one, and roared again. "No, I don't think I'm a lion after all," he admitted sadly. "Well," said Hyacinth, "we must think of a plan." "We must think of a plan," said Udo, and he came and sat meekly beside her again. He could conceal it from himself no longer that he was not a lion. The fact depressed him. "I suppose I have been weak," went on Hyacinth, "but ever since the men went away she has been the ruling spirit of the country. I think she is plotting against me; I _know_ she is robbing me. I asked you here so that you could help me to find her out." Udo nodded his head importantly. "We must watch her," he announced. "We must watch her," agreed Hyacinth. "It may take months----" "Did you say months?" said Udo, turning to her excitedly.