They still shook their heads.
"But just you wait till you see them at the supper-table!" said the Dude decidedly.
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"Nevertheless," said Florimel kindly, "I trust we shall find some means for your enjoyment. Have you come far?"
"Yes," said the leader, "many leagues to do you honor. We crave your acceptance of these few, simple, unpretentious gifts as a trifling evidence of the distinguished consideration and esteem in which we hold your fair bride and yourself."
It was plain that he had first carefully prepared and then committed to memory such a flowery speech.
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In their curiosity to examine the presents the Brownies began to circulate among the strangers.
When in doing so the Chinaman thoughtlessly put his head between the open scissors-blades the big, hulking fellow who held them could not repress an evil inclination, and snapped them together almost instantly so that the head was held between them in a vise-like grip.
Taking note of this another who had the snuffers clapped the hood forthwith over an ordinary Brownie so it looked as though he did not have a head.
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The leader angrily stamped his foot for them to desist from such rude, ill-mannered antics, whereupon the one reluctantly released the frightened Chinaman, while the other removed the snuffers from Brownie's head.
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"You must be weary and travel-stained from your long journey," said Florimel, not knowing what to think.
"If you will come with me," said Titania hospitably, "I will see that your wants are provided for."
The new guests at a signal from their leader rose, and when he bowed his acknowledgment of the proffered courtesy they clumsily followed his example, while the imps gloatingly patted their stomachs.
Titania motioned to Dame Drusilda, Violet, Daffodil, and some other fairies to accompany her, and they led the strangers up the steps into the palace.
Florimel was strongly tempted to follow, but just then King Stanislaus and the Policeman arrived very much out of breath.
They had come singly, and from opposite directions. Just outside the portcullis the Policeman had overtaken His Majesty, and they entered the palace-garden together.
"Officer," said King Stanislaus, "have you anything to report?"
"Yes, sire," said the Policeman, twirling his club. "The path I took didn't keep straight. My footsteps got so crooked that I had to arrest them."
"What did you discover?"
"Nothing."
"What was it?"
"I said nothing, sire."
"But nothing's something."
"No, it's nothing."
"If it wasn't something then it wouldn't be in the dictionary. But it's no use to argue with you. Did you find a clue?"
"Yes, a good one."
"What is it?"
"He wasn't in any of the places I gum-shoed to, so consequently they're eliminated. The deduction I've arrived at is that he's in some other place. As he can only be in one place there's only one place to find.
That's easy."
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"Of whom are you both talking?" asked Florimel curiously.
"The Red Spirit," said King Stanislaus. "We'll catch him yet. But the lovely bride--where is she?"
"In the palace, Your Majesty, providing for some newly arrived wedding-guests."
"Well, after you're married, Florimel," said King Stanislaus seriously, "you must be careful your wife doesn't lose her mind."
"Nonsense!"
"No nonsense about it. It often happens to a married woman."
"How so?"
"Sometimes she keeps on giving her husband a piece of her mind till finally she hasn't any mind left."
Suddenly Mignonette and Jassamine, ladies-in-waiting to the queen, ran shrieking from the palace.
"What's wrong?" cried Florimel.
"The queen!" gasped Mignonette.
"Yes, the poor queen!" said Jassamine, almost in hysterics.
"Speak!" urged Florimel. "Has anything happened to her?"
"Alas!" wailed Mignonette. "She is gone!"
"Gone!" echoed Florimel, distracted. "Gone where?"
"We know not," said Jassamine. "We have searched the palace over, and cannot find her."
"Where is Dame Drusilda?" asked Florimel quickly.