THE PRINCE’S DILEMMA.

“T do, most assuredly,” said the keeper.

“Then we must continue our search,” observed the prince.

They did continue their search. Every nook and cranny were re-examined.
It was a polished oak floor. There was no furniture in the room beyond one
or two cabinets and a single chair. It seemed impossible to the keeper that
his coin could not be found, if it had really fallen from the prince’s hand.
After a while the prince sat down, looking the picture of despair, when sud-
denly the keeper uttered a joyous exclamation. “ By the powers, it is here!”
It had packed itself away against the skirting of the room as if glued there,
and being somewhat of the color of the yellowish oak it was impossible to see it,
even now, without going close to it.

“Thank God!” exclaimed the prince, with far more fervency than the
occasion seemed to demand.

“‘ My dear sir,” said the keeper, “I am deeply grieved that I should have
seemed to doubt you; can you forgive me?”

“Yes ; indeed I can,” the prince replied ; “I was never more scared, never
realized until now how circumstantial evidence could hang a man fora crime
of which he might be perfectly innocent. Stand a little away from me, please,
and I will show you why I was so anxious to be gone, apart from the importance
of my appointment at Windsor. You say that coin which you hold in your
hand is the only one in existence ?”

“ Assuredly !”

The prince drew from his pocket its very fellow, the counterpart of the
Museum’s unique gem. “I came into possession of it,” he said, “a year ago ;
ever since I have had a burning desire to see the British Museum’s coin ; only
last week could I leave my country ; and what would the Greatest Lady have
thought, if your coin had been lost, of the explanation that the coin your police
had found in my possession was a duplicate I had come here to compare with
yours? Would you have believed me ?”

“Tam bound to say I should not,” replied the keeper promptly.

“ What should you have done?” asked the prince.

“T should have been guided by the police.”

“Of course you would,” said the prince; “ good-day! I have missed my
engagement ; but I can once more look you in the face; and, you may depend
upon it, I will never again have a secret about numismatic treasures.

The prince’s explanation at Windsor you may be sure was readily accepted,
if only for its curious and romantic details.

Joseph Hatton.