“Don’t you think his majesty would give the person a nice slap in the face who was so impudent and barefaced as to go to him with such a petition as this?” he said. “If you go, he will not; since he has said that he cannot deny even his crown to the man who saved his life. So go along, ducky, hurry and see his majesty.” “But you mean this?” “Why shouldn’t I mean it? I have a nice temper for jokes! I want to be queen, in order to let those little folks know their proper places, who pass their lives in digging the earth and eating potatoes, and have the impudence to dare face gentlefolk who condescend to pass wherever they please.” “Well, well, now it’s clear that you have lost your wits altogether!” “What you are going to lose, since you have no wits, is your teeth, with a slap in the face, if you don’t make haste and hurry off to the court.” “I’d lose my head before I’d commit such an absurdity. There. I’ve given way enough already.” “Indeed! Then from this day forward know that you have no longer a wife. This is my room, and you shall never set foot in it again, nor I in yours.” “But, woman!” “No, no; remember we are strangers to each other.” “Come, don’t be obstinate, my own Ramonita.” “Don’t I tell you, sir, that all is over between us?” “Now, look here, pigeon.” “Stop your prate!” “The dev—! Well, come, you shall be satisfied; I will go and see his majesty, and tell him that you want to be queen, though I know he will shoot me on the spot.” Ramona bestowed a caress on her husband in reward for his consent, and our good Juan made his way to the court cursing his own foolish weakness of character. Contrary to his expectations, the emperor hastened to grant him an audience, and received him with the accustomed smile. “Well, marquis, what is it?” he asked. “What ought it to be, sire? A fresh impertinence.” “Come, out with it man, and don’t be bashful. Something concerning the marchioness, eh?” “You’ve hit it again, sire. These foolish women are never content.” “Well, what does yours want?” “Nothing, sire. She says, would it please your majesty to make her queen?” “Queen! nothing more than that? Well, she is queen already, then. Now, go into the dining‐room, and see if there is anything there you can destroy; and, instead of returning to the palace of Marville, go to the palace of the Crown, where you will find your wife installed as becomes the Queen of Micomican.” Juan outdid himself in thanks and courtesies, and, after treating himself in the dining‐rooms right royally, made his way home. On his arrival at the palace of the Crown, a salvo of artillery announced his coming. The troops were drawn up around the palace, where he entered to the sound of the Royal March, and amid the _vivas_ of the people, who became mad in the presence of the husband of their new sovereign.