160 PRINCE FILDERKIN

bathing his temples, after the usual fashion
in cases of fainting.

In her haste, however, or being probably
agitated by the excitement of the moment,
she made an unfortunate mistake, for instead
of using eau-de-Cologne or some kindred
scent, she hastily snatched up a bottle of
violet ink, and dashed its contents freely
over the face and head of the fainting King.
The shock had the effect of bringing him to,
but as he sat up on the floor, with the ink
streaming down his face and beard, he pre-
sented a woeful and somewhat laughable:
appearance.

To Prince Filderkin, however, the moment
was too serious for laughter. Here, pros-
trate at his feet, and evidently unable to
resist the potent spell which he possessed, lay
the person upon whom depended his future
weal or woe, for if this individual could not
resist him, it was not likely that any one else
would be able to prevent him from making
himself master of the treasure which he
sought. There it lay, too, straight before his
eyes, in the crystal case, and his thoughts
and eyes were not fixed upon the ink-
bedaubed King, but upon the table which