"Is the Queen not down yet?" he asked, impatiently. "It does not surprise me, though; women are never punctual."
He was about to take his seat, when three soldiers threw open the door, and pushed into the room the little grey man.
"Sire," said one of the guards, "this rascal has had the audacity to enter the palace yard, in spite of the Royal order. We should have hanged him at once rather than disturb your Majesty at supper, but he pretends that he has a message from the Queen, and that he is the bearer of a State secret."
"From the Queen!" exclaimed the King, aghast. "Where is she? Wretch! what have you done with her?"
"I have stolen her!" quietly replied the little man.
"How did you do that?" said the King.
"Take it all, reverend father."
"Sire, who was the monk with a large sack on his back, to whom your Majesty condescended to say, 'Take it all, and a good riddance'?"
"It was you," cried the King; consequently even I am no longer in safety. One of these days you will steal me, and my kingdom into the bargain."
"Sire, I have come to ask you one thing more."
"I am afraid of you," said the King. "Who are you? A sorcerer, or the devil himself?"
"Neither, Sire. I am simply Prince Holar. I was on my way to ask you for the hand of your daughter, when I was overtaken by the storm and obliged to take refuge with my equerry in the house of the pastor of Skalholt. But chance threw in my way a foolish peasant, who has been the cause of my acting in this manner. However, I have only obeyed your Majesty's orders in all this."
"Well, well," said the King, "I see—or rather I do not see; it matters little. Prince Holar, I would rather have you as a son-in-law than as a neighbour. As soon as the Queen comes back———"
"She is here, Sire; my equerry has conducted her back to the palace."
The Queen soon reappeared, rather ashamed of having been so easily duped, but readily comforted at the prospect of having such a clever man for her son-in-law.
"You must tell me the wonderful secret," she whispered to Prince Holar. "I wish to know it."
"The secret of being beautiful for ever is to be loved," said the Prince.
"How can one be always loved?" asked the Queen.
"By being good, and simple, and by pleasing one's husband."
"Is that all? And you pretend to be a sorcerer!" exclaimed the indignant Queen, throwing up her arms.
"Enough of all this mystery," said the King in alarm. "Prince Holar, you will
