“Thank you,” said the Wallypug quietly. “Now go and issue the Proclamation. As for you two,” he cried, turning to the Doctor-in-law and the Cockatoo, who were trembling violently, “you shall be locked up in separate rooms till the Public Meeting is over and I know what is to be done to you.”
After locking them up, the Wallypug sent for a list of all the people who had been imprisoned for not paying their taxes. Girlie was greatly surprised to see that the King’s Minstrel’s name appeared amongst the rest.
“Why, he told me that he was enormously rich!” she said to the Royal Microscopist, when the Wallypug had gone out of the room to sign the pardons.
“Nonsense! he was always as poor as a church mouse!” declared the Royal Microscopist. “He would tell you anything, if he thought that you would believe it. His statements, my dear, are like walnuts; they are improved very greatly by being taken with a grain of salt.”
“Then he isn’t engaged to the Wallypug’s niece, either, I suppose?” said Girlie.
“Why, the Wallypug never had a niece, my dear, so I don’t see how that could be!” laughed the Royal Microscopist. “He only says things of that sort to try to appear grand, but I should think that his pride has had a fall this time, anyhow!”
And it turned out afterwards that the King’s Minstrel had really been so much upset at the overthrow of all his grand boastings that as soon as he was released he had left the country in disgust, missed by a very few and regretted by none.
After they had enjoyed some refreshments (which the Royal Servants prepared for them as soon as they had been liberated from prison) it was time for them to go to the Public Meeting, and, when the Wallypug, followed by Girlie and the Royal Microscopist, entered the Hall by the door near the throne, the entire company rose to their feet and cheered over and over again.
The Wallypug looked highly pleased at this reception, and bowed repeatedly and then, motioning Girlie to a seat which had been placed for her on the dais beside him, he ascended the throne amidst more cheering.
When the confusion had somewhat subsided and the people had resumed their seats, Girlie could see that all of her old friends were present, including the Fish (who seemed somewhat better) the Calf, the Seals, and the Crocodile. Madame Penguin smiled pleasantly at her from her old seat near the door, and even the Porter and the Station-master were there.