The King looked rather embarrassed.
‘It’s one of them,’ he said meaningly.
‘Oh! it’s one of them, is it?’ she said. ‘Well, sir’—turning to the Duke—‘what do you mean by forcing your way here against the royal orders?’
‘I thought,’ said the Duke, looking rather foolish, ‘that as you are going to——’
‘But I’m not,’ said Ernalie suddenly, ‘after such rudeness. You may go, and don’t come back again.’
And the Duke went.
‘That’s got rid of one of them, at any rate,’ the King said, with a sigh of relief.
‘I’ll do my best to get rid of them all,’ said the Princess.
‘How?’ the King began. Then he stopped. ‘Wait a moment. I have an idea,’ he went on.
‘Indeed, you surprise me,’ said the Princess.