The audience had now become silent—not a sound was to be heard in the theatre except the occasional rustle of a programme. Yellow-cap dismounted from his donkey, which remained on the stage in the care of the driver, and walked towards the King. His Majesty was eyeing him very closely. The great clock outside the building struck ten. The King and Yellow-cap saluted each other, and Yellow-cap said—
'I hope I have not kept your Majesty waiting.'
'Not at all,' the monarch replied. 'But, stay! surely I cannot be mistaken. Are not you the gallant prince whom I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday, and who vanished so strangely just when we were about to exchange hats?'
'Your Majesty's memory is not at fault,' Yellow-cap answered.
'Bless my soul! my dear fellow,' the King exclaimed with much heartiness, 'allow me to give you a hug!'
At this there was a great outburst of applause from the audience, which his Majesty acknowledged by bowing and smiling. After it was over he continued—
'And now tell me, where on earth did you vanish to? I could have sworn you were beside me—when, almost while I was looking at you, you were gone; and in your place was a dirty, impertinent varlet who tried to snatch my crown out of my very hands.'
'Indeed. An audacious fellow, truly!'
'Ah, but he got his deserts. Ha! I flatter myself he will never again try that game. No, by my faith!'
'What did you do to him?'