"I don't think it will get into the papers," said Jaqueline, smiling. "Nobody could tell, except the king and the princes, and they have reasons for keeping it to themselves." "I don't trust that younger one," said Dick, moodily; "I don't care for that young man. Anyway, my father _must_ be told; and, if you won't, I must." "Well, I'll tell him," said Jaqueline. "And now lie down till evening." After dinner, in the conservatory, Jaqueline told King Prigio all about it. His Majesty was very much moved. "What extraordinary bad luck that family has!" he thought. "If I had not changed the rug, the merest accident, Prince Charles would have dined at St. James's to-night, and King George in Hanover. It was the very nearest thing!" "This meddling with practical affairs will never do," he said aloud. "Dick has had a lesson, sire," said the princess. "He says he'll never mix himself up with politics again, whatever happens. And he says he means to study all about them, for he feels frightfully ignorant, and, above all, he means to practise his fencing." These remarks were not part of the conversation between Ricardo and Jaqueline, but she considered that Dick _meant_ all this, and, really, he did. "That is well, as far as it goes," said the king. "But, Jaqueline, about that mosquito?" for she had told him this part of the adventure. "That was a very convenient mosquito, though I don't know how Dick was able to observe it from any distance. I see _your_ hand in that, my dear, and I am glad you can make such kind and wise use of the lessons of the good Fairy Paribanou. Jaqueline," he added solemnly, laying his hand on her head, "You have saved the honour of Pantouflia, which is dearer to me than life. Without your help, I tremble to think what might have occurred." The princess blushed very much, and felt very happy. "Now run away to the queen, my dear," said his Majesty, "I want to think things over." He did think them over, and the more he thought the more he felt the inconvenience attending the possession of fairy things. "An eclipse one day, as nearly as possible a revolution soon after!" he said to himself. "But for Jaqueline, Ricardo's conduct would have been blazed abroad, England would have been irritated. It is true she cannot get at Pantouflia very easily; we have no sea-coast, and we are surrounded by friendly countries. But it would have been a ticklish and discreditable position. I must really speak to Dick," which he did next morning after breakfast. "You have broken my rules, Ricardo," he said. "True, there is no great harm done, and you have confessed frankly; but how am I to trust you any longer?"