At last the great doors were flung open, there was a blast of trumpets, and the messenger appeared.
He was tall and fair, and held himself proudly. His eyes were bright and shining and there was a smile upon his face. He was completely dressed in bright green and the Council noted with astonishment that he was without armour of any kind. He wore neither breastplate, shield nor helmet; he had neither sword by his side, nor spurs on his feet. He was bare-headed, and in his right hand he carried something green, horny and prickly, with little red dots on it.
Looking neither to the right nor to the left, he walked with firm and steady step up the long Hall between the rows of armed warriors.
As he passed the Youngest Princess she blushed deeply, but he did not seem to notice her.
When he reached the throne he bowed low before the King and Queen, and laid the prickly object on the table before them.
“Your Majesty,” said he in a clear, ringing voice. “From the King of Zowega, greeting! He sends you this token. It is the symbol of the Secret of Happiness.”
The King stared, so did the Queen.
They had expected a Pearl of Great Price, accompanied by a scroll on which was written the Secret of Happiness, and the King of Zowega had sent them this!
Amid dead silence the King took the token up in his hands in order to examine it more carefully.
He dropped it hastily, for it pricked him, and little drops of blood were seen starting from his hand.