the midst of the fray I was slightly wounded in the
arm; when you saw the blood flow, you pulled out
your red silk pocket-handkerchief and insisted on
binding it about my arm. I restore it to you. I
am healed. The kingdom of Great Britain is
henceforth safe from the humiliation of annexation
through subjugation to the neighbouring isle.’
There was immense applause, and even the hum-
bled princes, the brothers-in-law, had sufficient
grace to say: ‘Encore, encore!’

Then the king said: ‘It is obvious to me and to
all, that I must make this victorious hero heir to
my throne, though he has married only my
youngest daughter. Hitherto we have only known
him by the name of Don’t-know. We would all
like to know what is the real name by which he
may be known in history.’

Now the writer of this story is fain to say that at
this point his authorities fail him. In Cloudland
the prince was indeed called Dan, but not so in
English history. If therefore it be asked by what
name this prince may be looked for in the cata-
logue of English sovereigns, he is obliged to admit
‘Don’t know.’

149

DON’T-
KNOW