“Well, after going through a lot of tunnels and stopping ever so many times, we got out at one of the stations and went upstairs into the light again, and almost opposite the station we could see a lot of grey stone buildings with towers and battlements.”
“I know! You mean the Tower. We’ve been there,” interrupted Girlie.
“Did you see the Lions?” asked the Wallypug eagerly.
“Lions! No!” exclaimed the children. “There weren’t any; you didn’t see any, did you?”
“No, we didn’t,” admitted the Wallypug, “but the Doctor-in-Law told us that there were some there.”
“I read it in a book,” declared the Doctor-in-Law. “But I daresay it was all a pack of stories, like the rest of the things they said. Look at the Crown Jewels for instance—bits of glass and rubbish. That’s why they put them in an iron cage, so you can’t get at them to see if they are real.”
“Oh! I think they are real,” said Boy. “The Guide told us that they were worth ever so many thousands of pounds.”
“Yes, he may have said so,” remarked the Doctor-in-Law, “but I’ll be bound he wouldn’t let you take them away and examine them for yourself. I asked them to let me have one or two of the crowns and things to take home and test, but they positively refused, although I promised to return them within a week. They are afraid that we should find out that they are only imitations—that’s what’s the matter.”
“There weren’t any kings or queens executed either the day we were there,” he continued, grumbling.
“Well, I’m sure I’m very glad that that fashion has died out,” declared his Majesty. “I don’t mind admitting now that I was rather nervous about going at all, for fear that I should have my head chopped off, and I should feel so very awkward without one, you know.”