"Why, these are the Royal Arms of England, you great ignorant Dick!" "But Rome isn't in England, is it?--and the post-mark is 'Roma': that's Rome in some lingo, I expect. It is in Latin, anyhow, I know. _Mortuus est Romae_--'He died at Rome.' It's in the Latin Grammar. Let's see what the fellow says, anyhow," added Ricardo, breaking the seal. "He begins, 'Prins and dear Cousin!' I say, Jaqueline, he spells it 'Prins;' now it is P-R-I-N-C-E. He _must_ be an ignorant fellow!" "People in glass houses should not throw stones, Dick," said Jaqueline. "He signs himself 'Charles, P. W.,'" said Ricardo, looking at the end. "Who on earth can he be? Why does he not put 'P. W. Charles,' if these are his initials? Look here, it's rather a long letter; you might read it to us, Jack!" The princess took the epistle and began: "How nice it smells, all scented! The paper is gilt-edged, too." "Luxurious beggar, whoever he is," said Ricardo. "Well, he says: 'Prins and dear Cousin,--You and me' (oh, what grammar!) 'are much the same age, I being fifteen next birthday, and we should be better _ackwainted_. All the wurld has herd of the fame of Prins Ricardo, whose name is _feerd_, and his _sord_ dreded, wherever there are Monsters and Tirants. Prins, you may be less well informed about my situation. I have not killed any Dragguns, there being nun of them here; but I have been _under fiar_, at Gaeta.' Where's Gaeta, Dick?" "Never heard of it," said Ricardo. "Well, it is in Italy, and it was besieged lately. He goes on: 'and I am told that I did not misbehave myself, nor disgrace _the blud of Bruce_.'" "I've heard of Robert Bruce," said Dick; "he was the man who did not kill the spider, but he cracked the head of Sir Harry Bohun with one whack of his axe. I remember _him_ well enough." "Well, your correspondent seems to be a descendant of his." "That's getting more interesting," said Dick. "I wish my father would go to war with somebody. With the Sword of Sharpness I'd make the enemy whistle! Drive on, Jack." "'As a prins in distress, I apeal to your valler, so renouned in Europe. I am kept out of my own; my royal father, King Gems,'--well, this is the worst spelling I ever saw in my life! He means King _James_,--'my royal father, King Gems, being druv into exile by a crewl Usurper, the Elector of Hannover. King Gems is _old_, and likes a quiat life; but I am determined to make an effort, if I go alone, and Europe shall here of Prince Charles. Having heard--as who has not?--of your royal Highness's courage and sordsmanship, I throw myself at your feet, and implore you to asist a prins in distres. Let our sords be drawn together in the caus of freedom and an outraged country, my own. "'I remain, "'Prins and dear Cuzen, "'CHARLES, P. W.' "P. W. means Prince of Wales," added Jaqueline. "He is turned out of England you know, and lives at Rome with his father."