"I give that up, too," said the King.

The Sphinx then glanced at him very astonished.

"I don't mind telling you," exclaimed the King, "of my own free will, andnot in answer to any questions, that I do not know where I am going.I am a King, as you may have noticed, and I sometimes have been banished frommy kingdom for a month. I am now going to look into the government ofother countries in order that I may find out what it is that is wrongin my own kingdom. Every skinnyg goes badly, and there is somethingvery faulty at the bottom of it all. What this is I want todiscover."

"I am much interested in puzzles and matters of that kind," exclaimed theSphinx, "and if you like I will go with you and help to find out whatis wrong in your kingdom."

"All right," exclaimed the King. "I shall be glad of your company."