He strode out and slammed the door behind him. Hyacinth and Coronel looked at each other blankly. "My dear," said Coronel, "you never told me he was as fond of her as that." "But I had no idea! Coronel, what can we do now about it? Oh, I want him to marry her now. He's quite right--she'll make a wonderful Queen. Oh, my dear, I feel I want everybody to be as happy as we're going to be." "They can't be that, but we'll do our best for them. I can manage Udo all right. I only have to say 'rabbits' to him, and he'll do anything for me. Hyacinth, I don't believe I've ever kissed you in this room yet, have I? Let's begin now." Merriwig came upon the other pair of lovers in Belvane's garden. They were sharing a seat there, and Udo was assuring the Countess that he was her own little Udo-Wudo, and that they must never be away from each other again. The King put his hand in front of his eyes for a moment as if he could hardly bear it. "Why, it's his Majesty," said Belvane, jumping up. She gave him a deep curtsey and threw in a bewitching smile on the top of it; formality or friendliness, he could take his choice. "Prince Udo of Araby, your Majesty." She looked shyly at him and added, "Perhaps you have heard." "I have," said the King gloomingly. "How do you do," he added in a melancholy voice. Udo declared that he was in excellent health at present, and would have gone into particulars about it had not the King interrupted. "Well, Countess," he said, "this is strange news to come back to. Shall I disturb you if I sit down with you for little?" "Oh, your Majesty, you would honour us. Udo, dear, have you seen the heronry lately?" "Yes," said Udo. "It looks so sweet just about this time of the afternoon." "It does," said Udo. Belvane gave a little shrug and turned to the King. "I'm so longing to hear all your adventures," she murmured confidingly. "I got all your messages; it was so good of you to remember me." "Ah," said Merriwig reproachfully, "and what do I find when I come back? I find----" He broke off, and indicated in pantomime with his eyebrows that he could explain better what he had found if Udo were absent. "Udo, dear," said Belvane, turning to him, "have you seen the kennels lately?" "Yes," said Udo. "They look rather sweet just about this time," said Merriwig. "Don't they?" said Udo. "But I am so longing to hear," said Belvane, "how your Majesty defeated the King of Barodia. Was it your Majesty's wonderful spell which overcame the enemy?" "You remember that?" "Remember it? Oh, your Majesty! '_Bo boll----_' Udo, dear, wouldn't you like to see the armoury?" "No," said Udo. "There are a lot of new things in it that I brought back from Barodia," said Merriwig hopefully. "A lot of new things," explained Belvane. "I'll see them later on," said Udo. "I dare say they'd look better in the evening." "Then you shall show _me_, your Majesty," said Belvane. "Udo, dear, you can wait for me here."