Page:The queen's museum, and other fanciful tales.djvu/18

 soon be in jail; and so he hurried to propose a plan which had occurred to him while on his way to the palace.

'I came to see your Majesty on the subject of the museum,' he said, 'and to crave permission to contribute to the collection some objects which shall be interesting to every one. I understand that it is highly desirable that every one should be interested.'

'Of course it is,' said the Queen, 'and although I think that there is not the slightest reason why every one should not feel the keenest interest in what the museum already contains, I am willing to add to it whatever may make it of greater value.'

'In that case,' said the Stranger, 'no time should be lost in securing what I wish to present.'

'Go at once,' said the Queen. 'But how soon can you return?' 10