PRINCE RICARDO. 193

 

‘A hollow groan and the sound of a heavy
body falling interrupted the king. He looked
all about the room, but saw nothing. He was
alone !

‘‘She must have been in the room, invisible,”
said the king; and, of course, she has died in
that condition. ‘‘ But I must find her body!”

The king groped about everywhere, like a
blind man, and at last discovered the dead body
‘of the wicked fairy lying on the sofa. He could
not see it, of course, but he felt it with his
hands.

“This is very awkward,” he remarked. “I
cannot ring for the servants and make them
take her away. There is only one plan.”

So he wished she were in her family pyramid,
in the Egyptian desert, and in a second the
sofa was unoccupied.

“‘A very dangerous and revengeful enemy is
now removed from Ricardo’s path in life,” said
his Majesty, and went to dress for dinner.

Meanwhile Ricardo was riding gaily home.
The yellow light of Jaunia had vanished, and
pure blue sky broke overhead as soon as the
dauntless Dwarf had drawn his latest breath.
The poor, trembling people of the country
came out of their huts and accompanied Dick,
cheering, and throwing roses which had
been yellow roses, but blushed red as soon as
the Dwarf expired. They attended him to
the frontiers of Pantouflia, singing his praises,