had hitherto succeeded in stifling, were indeed awkward. He could not
conceive his mistress with a page and a poodle. He feared much that the
cargo was not well assorted. Popanilla determined to inquire after his
canoe.

His courage, however, was greatly reassured when, on reading the second
edition, he learned that the new island was not of considerable size,
though most eligibly situate; and, moreover, that it was perfectly void
of inhabitants. When the third edition was published he found, to his
surprise, that the Private Secretary was the discoverer of this
opposition island. This puzzled the Plenipotentiary greatly. He read
on; he found that this acquisition, upon which all Vraibleusia was
congratulated in such glowing terms by all its journals, actually
produced nothing. His Excellency began to breathe; another paragraph,
and he found that the rival island was, a rock! He remembered the
porpoise of yesterday. The island certainly could not be very large,
even at low water. Popanilla once more felt like a Prince: he defied
all the discoverers that could ever exist. He thought of the great
resources of the great country he represented with proud satisfaction.
He waited with easy, confidence the return of the fleet which had
carried out the most judicious assortment with which he had ever been
acquainted to the readiest market of which he had any knowledge. He had
no doubt his mistress would look most charmingly in a barege. Popanilla
determined to present his canoe to the National Museum.

Although his Excellency had been in the highest state of astonishment
daring his whole mission to Vraibleusia, it must be confessed, now that
he understood his companion's question of yesterday, he particularly
stared. His wonder was not decreased in the evening, when the
'Government Gazette' appeared. It contained an order for the immediate