“There’s a reason,” said Quox. “Do you see this ribbon around my neck?”
“Yes; and I’m astonished that a dignified dragon should wear such a silly thing.”
“Do you see it plainly?” persisted the dragon, with a little chuckle of amusement.
“I do,” declared Ruggedo.
“Then you no longer possess any magical powers, and are as helpless as a clam,” asserted Quox. “My great master, Tititi-Hoochoo, the Jinjin, enchanted this ribbon in such a way that whenever Your Majesty looked upon it all knowledge of magic would desert you instantly, nor will any magical formula you can remember ever perform your bidding.”
“Pooh! I don’t believe a word of it!” cried Ruggedo, half frightened, nevertheless. Then he turned toward Files and tried to transform him into a fiddle bow. But he could not remember the right words or the right pass of the hands and after several trials he finally gave up the attempt.
By this time the Nome King was so alarmed that he was secretly shaking in his shoes.
“I told you not to anger Tititi-Hoochoo,” grumbled Kaliko, “and now you see the result of your disobedience.”
Ruggedo promptly threw his sceptre at his Royal Chamberlain, who dodged it with his usual cleverness, and then he said with an attempt to swagger: