So the Queen entered the palace.
All the great halls were silent, and empty of people, and she passed through one after the other, shivering a little at their vastness.
At last she came before the curtain that separated her from the Throne Hall. It was large enough to contain the whole nation.
She pushed the curtain aside and found herself standing behind the great throne. Through the interstices of the carved back she could see everything that was going on. The Great Hall was thronged full of people from end to end. On the throne platform the Regent was waiting, evidently about to begin a speech.
The Queen stopped and peeped; there was a great flourish of trumpets that echoed and echoed along the hall, and the Regent began.
"Ladies noble, my lords, dames commoner, and gentlemen!" His great voice sounded clearly through the silence. "As you are well aware, our gracious and high mighty sovereign, the Queen Eldrida, has deigned to favour my unworthy self with the priceless honour of her hand, and that on this auspicious day. Her hand and seal affixed to the weighty document you have seen in the market-place."
The Queen walked round the opposite side of the throne into the view of the people, who set up a tumultuous cheer. The Regent, however, thought they were cheering him, and went on with his speech.
"I had also announced that it was her Majesty's royal pleasure to reveal herself to her loyal people's eyes on this day."
The Queen slowly ascended the steps of the throne and seated herself thereon. The great gold crown—it was six feet high, and so heavy that no head could bear its weight—hung above her head by a great gold chain.
The people cheered again, and still the Regent, whose back was to the throne, deemed that they were applauding his speech. He ran his fingers through his black beard and continued—