went--in one room, and Cap'n Bill in another, and took Button-Bright
away with him to show the boy the way to the King's bedchamber. As
they proceeded, they passed many rooms with closed doors, and before
one of these a patched Blueskin was pacing up and down in a tired
and sleepy way. It was Jimfred Jinksjones, the double of the Fredjim
Jonesjinks they had talked with in the servants' hall, and he bowed
low before the Majordomo.

"This is the King's new bootblue, a stranger who has lately arrived
here," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, introducing the boy to the patched man.

"I'm sorry for him," muttered Jimfred. "He's a queer-looking chap,
with his pale yellow skin, and I imagine our cruel Boolooroo is
likely to patch him before long, as he did me--I mean us."

"No he won't," said Button-Bright positively. "The Boolooroo's
afraid of me."

"Oh, that's different," said Jimfred. "You're the first person I
ever knew that could scare our Boolooroo."

They passed on, and Ghip-Ghisizzle whispered, "That is the Royal
Treasure Chamber." Button-Bright nodded. He had marked the place
well so he couldn't miss it when he wanted to find it again. When
they came to the King's apartments there was another guard before
the door, this time a long-necked soldier with a terrible scowl.

"This slave is the Royal Bootblue," said Ghip-Ghisizzle to the
guard. "You will allow him to pass into his Majesty's chamber to get
the royal shoes and to return them when they are blued."