“And so are we!” declared the other three in chorus.
“But—but I don’t understand,” stammered the King, mopping his royal brow in wonder. “All in a day, here is my whole domain changed from one of sorrow to one of joy. Tell me, who has wrought this splendid change?”
And with one accord they answered, “Peterkin!”
His Majesty’s scepter crashed to the floor, but he took no notice of it. He stared at them as if he thought them mad.
“What? That same little scalawag of a Peterkin who fled from our dungeon and who escaped us so neatly but yesterday?”
’Twas then that little Princess Clem came darting out from behind her curtain, dancing and laughing roguishly.
“The very same, my royal father! The very same Peterkin! And look!” she cried, stopping short at the window, “here he comes now!”
XXXII
THE VILLAIN SATISFIED
