And now something happened which Yellow-cap could not at first understand. The King hummed-and-hah'ed and looked rather embarrassed, but said nothing, and by and by began searching in his pockets as if he had mislaid something. The audience saw that something was wrong, and catcalls and whistling and impertinent remarks were heard from all parts of the house. The King turned red, and stood first on one foot and then on another; and at last he muttered between his teeth-- 'I'll have that prompter's head cut off!' 'If your Majesty will allow me,' said Silvia, coming forward, 'I can tell you what comes next.' And she whispered a few words in his ear. 'Ah! of course--of course!' exclaimed the King, looking much relieved. 'I have had hardly any time to study my part; and I hope,' he added, turning to the audience, 'that you will excuse me.' 'Go it, old boy!' sang out somebody from the gallery. The King pulled down his ruffles and went on. '"A rhyme to King Ormund, eh?" Dear me! Then you are one of the conspirators?' 'I have that honour,' replied Yellow-cap. 'In fact, I am the chief of them; and I can, if you like, tell you the names of the others,' he added, glancing at the Prime Maniac and his companions. 'You must not say that,' said Silvia in a low voice, twitching his sleeve again; 'it isn't in your part.' 'I shall take my own part,' returned Yellow-cap, loud enough to be heard all over the theatre, 'and do what I like with it.' 'That's the talk!' called out a man from the pit. 'Give it 'em, youngster, and we'll see fair play.' 'Well, you have got the best of me,' said the King, shrugging his shoulders good-humouredly, 'and I have only one regret.' 'What may that be?' Yellow-cap inquired. 'Only that, since you _have_ got the best of me, I am prevented from enjoying the pleasure I had looked forward to of making you my successor. But, after all, it comes to the same thing in the end--for you, at any rate. And things being as they are, of course they could not be otherwise. Come--despatch!' And so saying the venerable monarch wrapped his mantle round his head and struck an heroic attitude. 'What are you waiting for? Let him have it!' whispered Silvia at Yellow-cap's elbow. But Yellow-cap thought there was no need of hurrying; so he put the bit of paper in his pocket and said, gently pulling the King's mantle from before his face-- 'My dear King, pray let us understand each other. I am sure that we can manage this thing without any trouble to either of us. As you yourself say, what need is there for me to be a usurper, if I can be a successor?'