Philip was taken to a little ante-room, where he had to wait a good while. At last one of the royal grooms came to him, and said: "Come this way; the King will see you."
Philip was distracted with fear. His knees shook so that he could hardly walk. He was, led into a splendid chamber. The old King was sitting at a table, and laughing long and loud; near him stood Prince Julian without a mask. Besides these, there was nobody in the room.
The King looked at Philip with a good-humored expression. "Tell me—all without missing a syllable—that you have done to-night."
Philip took courage from the condescension of the old King, and told the whole story from beginning to end. He had the good sense, however, to conceal all he had heard among the courtiers that could turn to the prejudice of the Prince. The King laughed again and again, and at last took two gold-pieces from his pocket and gave them to Philip. "Here, my son, take these, but say not a word of your night's adventures. Await your trial; no harm shall come of it to you. Now go, my friend, and remember what I have told you."
Philip knelt down at the King's feet and kissed his hand as he stammered some words of thanks. When he arose, and was leaving the room, Prince Julian said: "I beseech your Majesty to allow the young man to wait a few minutes outside. I
