"If you will come with me," said Titania hospitably, "I will see that your wants are provided for." The new guests at a signal from their leader rose, and when he bowed his acknowledgment of the proffered courtesy they clumsily followed his example, while the imps gloatingly patted their stomachs. Titania motioned to Dame Drusilda, Violet, Daffodil, and some other fairies to accompany her, and they led the strangers up the steps into the palace. Florimel was strongly tempted to follow, but just then King Stanislaus and the Policeman arrived very much out of breath. They had come singly, and from opposite directions. Just outside the portcullis the Policeman had overtaken His Majesty, and they entered the palace-garden together. "Officer," said King Stanislaus, "have you anything to report?" "Yes, sire," said the Policeman, twirling his club. "The path I took didn't keep straight. My footsteps got so crooked that I had to arrest them." "What did you discover?" "Nothing." "What was it?" "I said nothing, sire." "But nothing's something." "No, it's nothing." "If it wasn't something then it wouldn't be in the dictionary. But it's no use to argue with you. Did you find a clue?" "Yes, a good one." "What is it?" "He wasn't in any of the places I gum-shoed to, so consequently they're eliminated. The deduction I've arrived at is that he's in some other place. As he can only be in one place there's only one place to find. That's easy." [Illustration] "Of whom are you both talking?" asked Florimel curiously. "The Red Spirit," said King Stanislaus. "We'll catch him yet. But the lovely bride--where is she?" "In the palace, Your Majesty, providing for some newly arrived wedding-guests." "Well, after you're married, Florimel," said King Stanislaus seriously, "you must be careful your wife doesn't lose her mind." "Nonsense!" "No nonsense about it. It often happens to a married woman." "How so?" "Sometimes she keeps on giving her husband a piece of her mind till finally she hasn't any mind left." Suddenly Mignonette and Jassamine, ladies-in-waiting to the queen, ran shrieking from the palace. "What's wrong?" cried Florimel. "The queen!" gasped Mignonette. "Yes, the poor queen!" said Jassamine, almost in hysterics. "Speak!" urged Florimel. "Has anything happened to her?" "Alas!" wailed Mignonette. "She is gone!" "Gone!" echoed Florimel, distracted. "Gone where?" "We know not," said Jassamine. "We have searched the palace over, and cannot find her." "Where is Dame Drusilda?" asked Florimel quickly. "She is gone too," said Mignonette. "And Daffodil and Violet are missing," added Jassamine. "Our strange wedding-guests--where are they?" "They have flown!" cried Mignonette and Jassamine together. "Then it is they who have taken them," said Florimel, as he ran toward the palace-steps. "Quick--a search! They cannot have gone far."