'What are you dreaming about?' said the voice of Silvia in his ear. 'The half of a brass farthing is just as good, if you will only think so. And you have not yet answered his Majesty's question.'
'Ah! I beg pardon,' muttered Yellow-cap. 'I--what did you say? I--yes--that is--no! No, I am not so fortunate in love as I seem to be in other things. Ah me! Rosamund!'
'Well, well,' said the King, with a particularly arch look, 'I dare say we shall be able to do you a good turn in that way too.'
'Is this the place where kings are crowned?' demanded Yellow-cap.
'Certainly; where else could it be?' returned the King.
'Then I will be crowned this moment,' said Yellow-cap in the commanding tone which he had found it best to use towards these London people. 'Is there an Archbishop present? And let somebody fetch a throne!'
'Here is the throne, please your Worship,' said the half-witted youth, leading forward the donkey.
'And here is the Archbishop, at your service,' said one of the persons in the white dominoes, making a bow.
'That won't do,' said Yellow-cap sharply. 'You are the Prime Maniac--only you have shaved your moustachios.'
'That makes all the difference, please your Highness,' replied the other humbly.
'And now I look at you again,' continued Yellow-cap, 'I think I remember you before you were a Prime Maniac. I remember you when you were only three feet high.'
'It is all the same,' answered the other again. 'I rise to the occasion.'
'Well, it makes no difference, I suppose,' said Yellow-cap, after a pause, bestriding the donkey's back. 'Now for the crown!'
King Ormund took the crown from his brow and handed it to the Archbishop, who put it on Yellow-cap's head, over the yellow cap. Then all the courtiers round about murmured their congratulations, the audience that filled the theatre shouted 'Hooray!' and 'Encore!' the ex-King clapped him on the shoulder and said, 'Bless you, my boy!' and Silvia whispered in his ear, 'Now you are King!'
'Long live King Yellow-cap!' roared everybody.
'How do you like it?' asked Ormund pleasantly.
'I feel about as I did before,' replied the new King, in a slightly disappointed tone. 'How much does this crown weigh? Haven't you a lighter one?'
'No; and you won't find that one grow any lighter,' said Ormund, with a chuckle. 'But if you don't feel any difference I do! I am ten years younger already. I am positively light-headed.'