No one went back to prison, and the city was full of re-united households and happy homes.  On the morning of the fourth day, a grand procession of citizens came to the palace to express to the Queen their delight and appreciation of her museum.  The great happiness of her subjects could but please the Queen.  She called the Stranger to her, and said to him: 

“Tell me how you came to know what it was that would interest my people.”

“I asked them,” said the Stranger.  “That is to say, I arranged that they should be asked.”

“That was well done,” said the Queen; “but it is a great pity that my long labors in their behalf should have been lost.  For many years I have been a collector of button-holes; and there was nothing valuable or rare in the line of my studies of which I had not an original specimen or a facsimile.  My agents brought me from foreign lands, even from the most distant islands of the sea, button-holes of every kind; in silk, in wool, in cloth of gold, in every imaginable material, and of those which could not be obtained careful copies were made.  There was not a duplicate specimen in the whole collection; only one of each kind; nothing repeated.  Never before was there such a museum.  With all my power I strove to educate my people up to an appreciation of button-holes; but, with the exception of a few tailors and seamstresses, nobody took the slightest interest in what I had provided for their benefit.  I am glad that my people are happy, but I cannot restrain a sigh for the failure of my efforts.”

“The longer your Majesty lives,” said the Stranger, “the better you will understand that we cannot make other people like a thing simply because we like it ourselves.”

“Stranger,” said the Queen, gazing upon him with admiration, “are you a king in disguise?”

“I am,” he replied.

“I thought I perceived it,” said the Queen, “and I wish to add that I believe you are far better able to govern this kingdom than I am.  If you choose I will resign it to you.”

“Not so, your majesty,” said the other; “I would not deprive you of your royal position, but I should be happy to share it with you.”

“That will answer very well,” said the Queen.  And turning to an attendant, she gave orders that preparations should be made for their marriage on the following day.

After the royal wedding, which was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur, the Queen paid a visit to the museum, and, much to her surprise, was greatly delighted and interested.  The King then informed her that he happened to know where the robbers had stored her collection, which they could not sell or make use of, and if she wished, he would regain the collection and erect a building for its reception.

“We will not do that at present,” said the Queen.  “When I shall have thoroughly examined and studied all these objects, most of which are entirely new to me, we will decide about the button-holes.”