PRINCE RICARDO. 161

 

which offers me the pleasure of this unexpected
interview ?”’

‘* Oh, I’m Ricardo of Pantouflia!” says Dick.
‘**T had a letter from you this morning, and I
believe you wanted to see me.”

“From Pantouflia, sir,’’ said Prince Charles;
‘‘why, that is hundreds of leagues away!”

“Tt is a good distance,” said Dick; “‘ but a
mere step when you wear Seven-league Boots,
like mine.”

‘‘My dear prince,” said Charles, throwing
himself into his arms with rapture, and kissing
him in the Italian fashion, which Dick did not
half like, ‘you are, indeed, worthy of your
reputation ; and these are the celebrated Seven-
league Boots? Harry,” he cried to his brother,
‘“come here at once and let me present you to
his Royal Highness, our illustrious ally, Prince
Ricardo of Pantouflia. The Duke of York—
Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia. Gentlemen,
know each other!”

The prince bowed in the most stately manner.

“TI say,” said Dick, who was seldom at all
up to the standard of royal conversation,
“‘what’s that: game you were playing? It’s
new to me. You sent the ball a tremendous
long shot.”

‘‘The game is called golf, and is the favourite
pastime of my loyal Scottish subjects,’ said
Prince Charles. ‘‘ For that reason, that I may
be able to share the amusements of my people,