AUMPLESS 163

course they would have followed it is impos-
sible to say, since the King rose slowly at the
moment of their entrance, and with a wave
of his hand forbade them to advance further
into the room.

‘My children,’ he said in a melancholy
tone, ‘there is no further service which you
can render your unhappy King. Heand you
are alike overcome by Fate. There is a
wizard here who hath an awful spell, by the
force of which we are all undone, and our
hump will go from us!’ =

Scarcely were these words out of the
King’s mouth when a wild and awful cry
of agony burst at the same moment from
all his attendants. It was such a wail of
anguish as the Prince had never before
heard, and it conveyed to his mind the idea
that it betokened a real and heart-felt grief
which he might by good management turn
at once to his own advantage. Keeping,
therefore, his finger against his nose, which
he felt to be a precaution rendered necessary
by the circumstances in which he was placed,
he once more spoke to the King in a tone
which, as he intended, all those in the room
could hear.