The little Princess looked at him quickly. She suspected some
treachery. But the Prince seemed pleased.

"For me?" he said. "A festival in which these friends may share--these
friends who saved my life?"

"Ay," answered the King, bowing to the group once more with a peculiar
smile. "Surely, it shall be also in honor of these friends to whom we
are so grateful." The Hermit and John bowed. The King went on
suavely: "We will have a pageant, with music and games and singing.
But chiefly the people clamor to see our young friend do the wonderful
tricks of which they have heard. I myself would fain see what you, my
son, have found so amusing. My lad,"--he turned to John with a strange
tone in his voice,--"you shall dance and tumble and put your animals
through their paces, for the applause of my people. I command you to
appear before us this day week and do your sprightliest. It is not
often that we have the honor of entertaining a mountebank at court."

He spoke the word "mountebank" sneeringly, and John flushed. But
seeing the Hermit sitting with downcast eyes, he merely answered:--

"I shall obey your Majesty's commands."

"Then that is settled," said the King, with a grunt of satisfaction.
"And you,"--he turned to the Prince,--"you will then be strong enough
to sit at my side on the throne. It is well."

He quite ignored the little daughter who with a pale face shrank in one
corner. With one last glance at the group, the King swept from the