GAMA—Not you! She and her companions will have nothing to do with anything masculine. One young lady brought a mail phaeton with her to the castle and she was expelled. When the time comes for the fast mail for Kansas City over your line to pass, the young ladies shut themselves in the basement cellar. Perhaps the never failing graces of your Alton men may win her.

PRINCE HILARION—Well! I’ll try (to Cyril and Florian), and you shall accompany me. Come quick! Your satchel. We have just time to catch the fast train for Castle Adamant, and we will see whether the graces of one Alton man won’t change the tenor of these young ladies’ ideas. Quick! secure us berths. (Exit officials.)

HILD.—Yes! and you, King Gama, and your baby boys shall remain here as hostages. (Re-enter officials.) Sorry to say, sir, that every berth in the five sleepers is taken. Nothing left to swing a duster in.

HILD.—Then take our special car (exit officials to give orders), and now, King Gama, a word to you. If aught befall the flower of this road, look out for your life. Take him to a cell and give him one of our time tables to pass away the time. (Exit Gama and his three sons in chains.)

The scene changes to the dépôt of the Chicago and Alton Railroad.

With the prince and his two friends checking their baggage and then to the gardens at Castle Adamant, a charming retreat on the line of the Chicago and Alton Railroad. In the distance can be seen the steel tracks of the Chicago and Alton Railroad glittering in the noonday sun. The air is calm and balmy, disturbed only by the occasional song of some bird, or the musical hum of a distant train on the Alton Line, as it whizzes with lightning speed along the track. The lady graduates of the Princess Ida’s seminary are on the scene, seated on the lawn at the feet of Lady Psyche.

LADY P.—Attention, ladies, while I read to you the list of punishments ordered by the Princess Ida. The first is Claire. She’s expelled.

ALL—Expelled!

LADY P.—Yes, expelled! Because, although she knows that no man of any kind may scale these walls, she brought a set of chessmen here. The next is May. She is also expelled for receiving letters.

MAY—They were from my mother!

LADY P.—It matters not, they came by mail. The next is Edith. She is also expelled for being found with a Chicago and Alton