"Oh, yes, I remember now," said Teddy.

After a while he and the fairy reached the city, and everywhere along
the street were people laughing and dancing and feasting, and all the
houses were hung with white and black flags. The black flags were for
the King of the Black-Country, and the white flags were for the Princess
Aureline. Everywhere they came the people made way for them and
whispered, "Look! look! That is the great magician who had come to show
his magic before the Princess Aureline."

At last they reached an open square, and there was the greatest crowd of
all. On a raised platform covered with silver cloth, and with steps
leading up to it, were two thrones; upon one of the thrones sat a tall,
fierce-looking man dressed in black velvet, and with a crown upon his
head cut entirely from one great black diamond; upon the other throne
sat a beautiful young princess. She was as pale as a lily and as
beautiful as the day, and was dressed in shimmering white. Her hands
were clasped in her lap and her face was very sad.

On the steps that led to this platform stood two heralds in black and
white with trumpets in their hands, and all about were ranged soldiers
two and two. They made Teddy think of the toy soldiers he had been
playing with, only they were as big as men, and instead of being gay
with red paint they were in black.

As soon as Teddy and the Counterpane Fairy appeared in this square, the
two heralds blew a loud blast and come down to meet them. "Make way!
make way for the magician!" they cried, and they escorted him and the
fairy through the crowd to the foot of the steps.