“The King turned to the Lord Chief Butler, when that official returned, and looking at me curiously, said, ’It’s very thoughtless of me, but I do not remember that I invited any guests for this evening.’

“‘I had heard nothing of it either, your Majesty,’ said the Lord Chief Butler, pursing up his lips and looking at me severely.  ’Shall I request the Lord High Footman and the Lord Under Footman to remove the person?’

“‘By no means,’ said the King kindly; ’I will ask him myself what brings him here.’

“’It was a matter of compulsion, rather than of inclination, your Majesty,’ said I. And I explained as well as I was able the curious affliction from which I suffer, of having to appear and disappear at the fairies’ pleasure.

“‘Most interesting—­most!’ said the Queen, smiling sweetly, ’and we should be most inhospitable if we did not make you welcome here for so long as the fairies will spare you to us.’

“This gracious speech, and the Queen’s beauty, quite won my heart, and putting my hand on my heart, I bowed in the most graceful manner that I could command.

“The Lord Chief Butler, seeing that I was in favour with their Majesties, now brought me a plate, and some glasses, and waited upon me most obsequiously.

“‘Tarts, my lord!’ he announced, handing me a silver dish on which were piled some rather stodgy-looking jam affairs.

“‘No thank you,’ I replied.

“The man looked horrified, and the King and Queen greatly embarrassed by my refusal.  ‘Er—­tarts—­er—­your Highness,—­er—­her Majesty’s own make,’ whispered the Lord Chief Butler.

“‘Oh, then by all means I will change my mind,’ said I gallantly, and I took two of the tarts on my plate, while the King and Queen looked on approvingly.

“I can safely say that in all my wanderings, through all these years, I have never before or since tasted such exceedingly unpleasant tarts.

“I hesitate to say more, out of respect to the most beautiful and gracious Queen who ever lived, but I could say a great deal.

“However, I managed to get through them, even to the bitter end, and had the satisfaction of seeing her Majesty look greatly delighted.

“‘I really must have another one, my love,’ declared the King; ’they are most delicious, made as they were by your own royal and beautiful hands.’

“‘No—­no—­dearest,’ smiled the Queen, her pride in her pastry battling with her consideration for her husband’s health, ’you have already had two.’

“‘Perhaps, my darling, you are right,’ replied the King, with a sigh of relief, and hurriedly motioning to the Lord Chief Butler to remove his plate.

“‘Perhaps our guest, though—­’ began the Queen sweetly.

“‘No—­no—­thank you, your Majesty,’ I hastened to say.  ’I never—­never—­by any chance indulge in more than two, under doctor’s strict orders.’

“‘Very well then,’ said her Majesty, ‘we will have dessert.’