Udo dropped undecidedly into a seat. This wanted thinking out. The Countess--what was wrong with her, after all? And she evidently adored him. Of course that was not surprising; the question was, was it fair to disappoint one who had, perhaps, some little grounds for----? After all, he had been no more gallant than was customary from a Prince and a gentleman to a beautiful woman. It was her own fault if she had mistaken his intentions. Of course he ought to have left Euralia long ago. But he had stayed on, and--well, decidedly she was beautiful--perhaps he had paid rather too much attention to that. And he had certainly neglected the Princess a little. After all, again, why not marry the Countess? It was absurd to suppose there was anything in Coronel's nonsense, but one never knew. Not that he was marrying her out of fear. No; certainly not. It was simply a chivalrous whim on his part. The poor woman had misunderstood him, and she should not be disappointed. "She seems fond of flowers," said Coronel. "You ought to make the Palace garden look beautiful between you." "Now, understand clearly, Coronel, I'm not in the least frightened by the Countess." "My dear Udo, what a speech for a lover! Of course you're not. After all, what you bore with such patience and dignity once, you can bear again." "That subject is distasteful to me. I must ask you not to refer to it. If I marry the Countess----" "You'll be a very lucky man," put in Coronel. "I happen to know that the King of Euralia--however, she's chosen you, it seems. Personally, I can't make out what she sees in you. What is it?" "I should have thought it was quite obvious," said Udo with dignity. "Well, Coronel, I think perhaps you are right and that it's my duty to marry her." Coronel shook him solemnly by the hand. "I congratulate your Royal Highness. I will announce your decision to the Princess. She will be much amu--much delighted." And he turned into the Palace. Pity him, you lovers. He had not seen Hyacinth for nearly ten minutes. CHAPTER XX CORONEL KNOWS A GOOD STORY WHEN HE HEARS IT I quote (with slight alterations) from an epic by Charlotte Patacake, a contemporary poet of the country: _King Merriwig the First rode back from war,_ _As many other Kings had done before;_ _Five hundred men behind him were in sight_ _(Left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right)._ So far as is known, this was her only work, but she built up some reputation on it, and Belvane, who was a good judge, had a high opinion of her genius.