18 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

ing terror the approach of the moment when he must return
to place himself in the power of the king.

Nevertheless, the mechanician was a man of honour: he
would not break a promise so sacred as that which he had
made. He accordingly resolved, whatever might ee
to set out the very next morning on his return to Ger-
many. And indeed there was no time to lose; fourteen
years and five months had passed away, and the two
travellers had only a hundred and twenty-two days, as we
have already said, to reach the capital of Princess Pirlipata’s
father.

Christian Elias Drosselmayer accordingly made known
his noble intention to his friend the astrologer; and both de-
cided that they would set out on their return next morning.

And, true to this intention, the travellers resumed their
Journey at daybreak, taking the direction of Bagdad. From
Bagdad they proceeded to Alexandria, where they em-
barked for Venice. From Venice they passed through the
Tyrol; and from the Tyrol they entered into the kingdom
of Pirhpata’s father, both sincerely hoping that he was either
dead or in his dotage.

But, alas! it was no such thing! Upon reaching the
capital, the unfortunate mechanician learnt that the worthy
monarch not only had not lost his intellectual faculties, but
was also in better health than ever. There was consequently
no chance for him—unless Princess Pirlipata had become
cured of her ugliness without any remedy at all, which was
not possible; or, that the king’s heart had softened, which
was not probable—of escaping the dreadful fate which
threatened him.

He did not however present himself the less boldly at the
gate of the palace, for he was sustained by the idea that he
was doing an heroic action; and he accordingly desired to
speak to the king.

The king, who was easy of access, and who gave an
audience to whomsoever he had business with, ordered the