“Oh, have you the cloak again?” asked Zixi, with a look of astonishment.
“Yes, indeed,” returned the princess; “it was locked up in my drawer, and Aunt Rivette managed to get it for me before the Roly-Rogues could find it.”
“Locked in your drawer?” repeated the witch-queen, musingly. “Then, I am sorry to say, you have not the fairy cloak at all, but the imitation one.”
“What do you mean?” asked Fluff, greatly surprised.
“Why, I must make a confession,” said Zixi, with a laugh. “I tried many ways to steal your magic cloak. First, I came to Nole as ‘Miss Trust.’ Do you remember?”
“Oh, yes!” cried Fluff; “and I mistrusted you from the first.”
“And then I sent my army to capture the cloak. But, when both of these plans failed, I disguised myself as the girl Adlena.”
“Adlena!” exclaimed the princess. “Why, I’ve often wondered what became of my maid Adlena, and why she left me so suddenly and mysteriously.”
“Well, she exchanged an imitation cloak for the one the fairies had given you,” said Zixi, with a smile. “And then she ran away with the precious garment, leaving in your drawer a cloak that resembled the magic garment but had no magical charms.”
“How dreadful!” said Fluff.