Thus speaking, the Duke took a large sheet of foolscap paper, and wrote rapidly for a moment or two.
"There," he said, pushing the paper over to the President, "is the decree."
"The decree, sir?"
"I think three weeks afford ample space," said Duke Deodonato.
"Three weeks, sir?"
"For every man over twenty-one years of age in this Duchy to find himself a wife."
"Your Highness," observed Dr. Fusbius, with deference, "will consider that between an abstract proposition and a practical measure——"
"There is to the logical mind no stopping place," interrupted Duke Deodonato.
"But, sir," cried the President, "imagine the consternation which this——"
"Let it be gazetted to-night," said Duke Deodonato.