“And has he the necktie?” asked Bud, eagerly. “He is wearing it, your Majesty,” answered the man; “but he refuses to give it to any one but the Princess Fluff.” “That’s all right,” said the king; and, reëntering the palace, he ordered Jikki to make preparations to receive the witch-queen and her retinue. [Illustration: “‘THE SAILORMAN IS FOUND!’ HE SHOUTED.”] When Zixi came to the city gates she found General Tollydob, in a gorgeous new uniform, waiting to escort her to the palace. The houses were gay with flags and streamers; bands were playing; and on each side of the street along which the witch-queen rode were lines of soldiers to keep the way clear of the crowding populace. Behind the queen came the sailorman, carefully guarded by Zixi’s most trusted soldiers. He looked uneasy at so great a reception, and rode his horse as awkwardly as a sailor might. So the cavalcade came to the palace, which was thronged with courtiers and ladies in waiting. Zixi and the sailorman were ushered into the great throne room, where King Bud, wearing his ermine robe and jeweled crown, sat gravely upon his throne, with Princess Fluff beside him. “Your Majesty,” began the witch-queen, bowing prettily, “I have brought you the sailorman at last. He has just returned from his voyage, and my soldiers captured him at his mother’s cottage by the mill. But he refuses to give the necktie to any one except the Princess Fluff.” “I am the Princess Fluff,” said Meg to the sailor; “and your necktie is part of my magic cloak. So please give it back to me.” The sailor shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. “My mother told me,” he finally said, “that King Bud would give me fifty gold pieces for it, and the Queen of Ix would give me another fifty gold pieces, and that your Highness would give me fifty neckties.” “That is all true,” returned Fluff; “so here are the fifty neckties.” Tillydib, the lord high purse-bearer, counted out fifty gold pieces, and Zixi’s treasurer counted out another fifty, and all were given to the sailorman. Then the miller’s son unfastened the necktie from about his collar and handed it to Fluff. During the murmur of satisfaction that followed, the girl unlocked her silver chest, which Jikki had brought, and drew out the magic cloak. Lifting the skirt of the garment, she attempted to fit the sailor’s necktie into the place it should go; and then, while every one looked on with breathless interest, the girl lifted a white face to the sailorman and exclaimed: “This is not the necktie your mother gave you!” [Illustration: “‘THIS IS NOT THE NECKTIE YOUR MOTHER GAVE YOU!’”] For a moment there was silence, while the assemblage glared angrily upon the sailor. Then the king, rising from his seat, demanded: “Are you sure, Fluff? Are you sure of that?” “Of course I’m sure,” said the girl; “it is neither the shape nor the color of the missing patch.” Bud turned to the now trembling sailor.