"Or perhaps they thought it was I who had caused them to toss."
"But our host—it was scarcely fair to him."
"He didn't seem to mind. He simply dived down and disappeared."
"Now, those people," said Dulcie, "if you saw them, they must have seen you, and therefore"—with a wise look—"therefore they are sure to put you in the newspapers."
"What a lark!"
"And people who read about it are sure not to believe there was seen a real live Sea-serpent, and wearing a nose-ring, too! And then I s'pose they'll all be duffers, eh, Cyril? And it'll be called the Silly Season!"
Dulcie laughed, and Cyril laughed too, but something out at sea just then caught his eye. He jumped up excitedly and began waving his arms about frantically.
"Look! look!" he shouted.
Dulcie, kneeling by his side and shading her eyes with her hand, saw that old clump of rocks again, and upon them stood his Majesty the Fish-King waving his crown at them. The tide rose higher and higher. He made three low bows in their direction—Dulcie fluttered her handkerchief and curtsied, Cyril bowed his best—the Fish-King made a final gesture of farewell, the Twins kissed their hands; his Majesty put his crown firmly on his head with a smack, and disappeared with the rocks beneath the surging spray. And they felt they would never see him more.