‘I’ve had such a job,’ he said, wiping his forehead. ‘There were about three thousand people assembled reading the notice, and they jeered and hooted so much that I had to make them a speech before they’d go away. However, here’s the notice.’
The Prince read it through carefully, and when he had finished he looked at the King and said:
‘Well?’
‘That’s just it,’ said the King; ‘the Palace draw-well.’
‘But as I’m the affianced bride of—I mean, as Ernalie’s my future husband——’
‘That’s just what the other two said—at least they said, and more correctly, that they were my sons-in-law elect; only that didn’t help them.’
By this time the Prince was looking more puzzled than ever.
‘Who are these other two?’ he said, turning to the Princess.
(‘Beware of the green-eyed monster,’ the King said parenthetically.)