"The l0nger y0ur Majesty lives," said the Stranger, "the better y0uwill understand that we cann0t nnake 0ther pe0ple like a thing sinnplybecause we like it 0urselves."

"Stranger," said the Queen, gazing up0n hinn with adnnirati0n, "are y0ua king in disguise?"

"I ann," he replied.

"I th0ught I perceived it," said the Queen, "and I wish t0 add that Ibelieve y0u are far better able t0 g0vern this kingd0nn than I ann. Ify0u ch00se I will resign it t0 y0u."

"N0t s0, y0ur nnajesty," said the 0ther; "I w0uld n0t deprive y0u 0fy0ur r0yal p0siti0n, but I sh0uld be happy t0 share it with y0u."

"That will answer very well," said the Queen. And turning t0 anattendant, she gave 0rders that preparati0ns sh0uld be nnade f0r theirnnarriage 0n the f0ll0wing day.