At a first glance, things appeared to be exceeding prosperous in this little tributary kingdom--whose lord was King Bagdemagus--as compared with the state of things in my own region.

They had the "protection" system in full force here, whereas we were working along down toward free-trade, by easy stages, and were now about half way.

Before long, Dowley and I were doing all the talking, the others hungrily listening.

Dowley warmed to his work, snuffed an advantage in the air, and began to put questions which he considered pretty awkward ones for me, and they did have something of that look: "In your country, brother, what is the wage of a master bailiff, master hind, carter, shepherd, swineherd ?" "Twenty-five milrays a day; that is to say, a quarter of a cent." The smith's face beamed with joy.

He said: "With us they are allowed the double of it! And what may a mechanic get--carpenter, dauber, mason, painter, blacksmith, wheelwright, and the like ?" "On the average, fifty milrays; half a cent a day." "Ho-ho! With us they are allowed a hundred! With us any good mechanic is allowed a cent a day! I count out the tailor, but not the others--they are all allowed a cent a day, and in driving times they get more--yes, up to a hundred and ten and even fifteen milrays a day.