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Updated: May 31, 2025
Did you notice what he said about holding a commission from Azuria, and then hurrying to explain that Azuria isn't on the ordinary maps just a wee bit of a kingdom up in the Carpathians, yet in the confines of Roumania? I call that fishy!" "Not entirely so, Tommy.
The slickers of the crew were dripping and shiny, and we, too, soon looked like a flock of wet, disgruntled hens. To add to my discomfiture the professor brought up a newspaper and began consulting the shipping news, blandly telling us that if we captured the princess within forty-eight hours he could have her in Azuria in twenty days.
So my vacillating spirits rebounded to the pinnacle of happiness and, raising my hand, I announced in a loud voice: "Gentlemen, Her Serene Highness, Doloria, Princess of Azuria!" Except for Echochee, they stopped and in frank amazement gazed at her. Flushed by the excitements that had made this day memorable, she was indeed the most adorable sovereign before whom knights had e'er sworn fealty.
You are cut-upping! I will not talk. Your conscience should hurt you!" "Not conscience, old fellow! The wages of conscience is ennui, and the gods know how I hate that. Give me your epigrams on delight and love, and the Princess of Azuria!" "Love! Bah!" Monsieur now stormed in disgust. "A mythical invention of diseased minds to explain away our follies!"
When he finished I had visualized a scene begun more than thirty years ago in the Royal Palace of Azuria: an honorable young doctor, Court physician, voluntarily surrendering his appointment because he loved the King's younger daughter Doloria's aunt; the old ruler's searching eyes that sympathized even while they censured the aged hand that pressed with understanding even while it took the proffered resignation.
Before he now had a chance to answer her question, Monsieur caught up with us. "Ah, my boy Jack," he grasped my hands, forgetting his ill humor to beam on me. "For lack of opportunity I have not expressed my gratitude! Azuria is your debtor! I, who have the authority, say it!" "Thank you," I replied, "but that debt was cancelled early this morning when its Princess saved me from assassination."
The first of these was a seal, and the professor, bending over it, uttered a cry of surprise: "The royal seal of Azuria! What deviltry could he have been contemplating when he stole this!" Then came a blank sheet of note paper, stamped with a gold peak, surmounted by a gold crown and three lavender ostrich plumes the Azurian royal crest.
I let her see the record of his crimes, her mother's discovery of the plates, the kidnaping, and, unless something most recent and unexpected had happened, the queen regent of Azuria was waiting at this minute for the little princess to return. She had been sitting very still, like a child with parted lips enchantingly absorbed by a fairy tale.
"This I may say: that, after Roumania dropped out of the war, the new Chancellor of Azuria wired imploringly for me to leave my classes at the University and come to him because for years I have advised with Azurian statesmen, frequently going on special missions. By the recent death of the old Chancellor a certain paper came to light.
"But what are we going to play?" "Make-believe," I eagerly cried. "That we're exploring our Secret world where we'll come after," there was no laugh in my voice now "you've gone to Azuria, and I'm here alone." She gave my face a quick, searching look. "And we only have to pass between these two big trees?" she asked, half lightly, half timidly. "Only through that gateway, and we're in our world!"
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