“Well,” said Betsy doubtfully, “it strikes me that if you ever manage to get there the Metal Monarch will make you, too, his prisoner.”
“Nonsense!” answered Shaggy, carelessly. “You mustn’t forget the Love Magnet.”
“What about it?” she asked.
“When the fierce Metal Monarch sees the Love Magnet, he will love me dearly and do anything I ask.”
“It must be wonderful,” said Betsy, with awe.
“It is,” the man assured her. “Shall I show it to you?”
“Oh, do!” she cried; so Shaggy searched in his shaggy pocket and drew out a small silver magnet, shaped like a horseshoe.
The moment Betsy saw it she began to like the Shaggy Man better than before. Hank also saw the Magnet and crept up to Shaggy to rub his head lovingly against the man’s knee.
But they were interrupted by the Royal Gardener, who stuck his head into the greenhouse and shouted angrily: