'Well, if I must, I must,' said King Yellow-cap rather ungraciously. 'But I thought the Kings of England could do what they pleased.'
'Oh, dear, no,' exclaimed the Archbishop, 'Magna Charta forbid!'
'Then I wish——' began Yellow-cap.
But he paused. What had he left to wish? He stretched out his hand to take the half of the brass farthing.
At that moment there was a great noise and confusion at the back of the stage, and half the audience sprang to their feet, supposing that the theatre had caught fire. But out of the confusion was dragged forward a sort of cart, in which a number of persons were seated, with veils over their faces, and their hands tied behind their backs. Yellow-cap saw that one of these persons was a woman.
CHAPTER XI.
THE GRAND TRANSFORMATION SCENE.
'What is that? What people are those in the cart?' demanded Yellow-cap, rising in his stirrups to get a better view.