A ROYAL SCANDAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9446, 22 June 1891, Page 2

A ROYAL SCANDAL.

PEINCE COLIBEI AND PRINCESS DEDALE. London, May 1. Performing afc the Empire Theatre jost now is a troupe of the tiniest midgets ever seen in London. The Colibris (as they have been christened) number five, and are all grown men and women. The biggest of them is far smaller than Tom Thumb ever was, and the smallest can sit comfortably on an inverted teacup. Midgets, however, have passions like other folk. It appears to be an undoubted fact that Prince Colibri, the dashing young bachelor of the troupe, has been indiscreet enough to fall violently in love with his friend Prince Dedale's wife. Worse than this, the lady returns his illicit attachment, and on Friday list allowed herself to elope with the misguided midget. The pair slipped out of the hotel when their manager (they thought) was taking . forty winks. Mr Munstaat got wind of their departure, nevertheless, and, following them to Charing Cross, arrived breathless but just in time to lift the little people through the carriage window. They were then securely tucked one under each arm and taken back home. Upon the news of this royal scandal reaching the Star office, Mr Hands, most amorous and (so far as the ladies are concerned) large-hearted of reporters, was despatched to midgetland to investigate the story. After introducing the subject, he says The climax came a day or two ago. The manager of the troupe, Herr Munstaat, lying one afternoon in pretended sleep on the sofa in their Eegent's Park lodgings overheard their tiny voices as they talked, sitting side by side on two inverted teacups by the fire. This is the conversation he overheard. Prince Colibri: Star of my life, do you not know that I love you P Princess Dedalo: Alas! and do not I love you only too well. Then fly with me, my princess, my queen. Ply with me. Ah, no! Colibri; you must not ask me. Am 1 not bound by all ties to another. But my life, I love you ! I love you ! And do I not love you too ? But do not ask me this. Is it not enough for us that we love each other ? . By the sky, no! Do you think I can live and see you another’s ? , Do you not know that I love you ? You are mine and lam yours. Our love sanctifies everything. Come with me, my love. There are other lands where the sun is bright and MEN ARB FREE. Come with me to America. I love you; do you not love me ? Colibri, yon are all the world to me, and where you are my sun is always shining. But, alas! I dare not. Dare not! What have you to fear BO long as lam with you ? Do you not know that it is that I may shield you from every harm that I ask you to fly ? Ah, my angel, do you doubt me P Once in America you are mine for ever. Why should you sacrifice our love to—to him? Oh, heavens, what shall I do ? What shall I say ? Colibri, you prevail on me; hut still I fear. Know you the way to this America P My life, my love! trust in me. Colibri, I fear, I fear, I tremble. I love you! I love you! But it is madness; it is wicked. I love you. my Princess. Will you not trust me ? Do you fear when it is I who am with you ? I love you! Ply with me! Then let it be so, I am yours. Take me far away. Let us go now before the patron wakes up. Hurriedly they rushed to their apartments, and packed up their belongings in pill-boxes. Colibri carried a little

BAGFUL OF PAPER MONET. Furtively they carried a chair to the front door, and Colibri climbing up drew back the latch. Out they went into the street and were free. He stopped a crawling cab, and they climbed in. “Charing Cross quick,” said Colibri, and the cab started. Charing Cross was the only railway station he knew. But what was that other cab which followed cautiously behind, and who was that grim foreigner with the cynical smile who sat inside it ? It was outraged society in the person of Manager Munstaat, who had jumped upfrom the sofa when they left, and had hurried after them. They little thought, as tbe porter at Chariag-cross lifted them out of the cab, that Munstaat was standing behind the pillar. “ Where to?” asked the porter. “Dover,” said Colibri. Dover was where the boat stopped coming over, and to Dover he was going to taka boat for tbe land of freedom. With his love hanging trustingly on his arm, Colibri, looking dedance at the- whole world, marched to the booking office, and, standing on tiptoe and shouting up demanded two first-class tickets for Dover. “Twohalf-tickets?” asked the booking clerk. Colibri withered him with a glance andtook his two FULL-SIZED TICKETS. They went to the train and took their seats. The traiu was nearly due to start. Everything went well. But we think we are free agents, when all the while we are puppets in the hands of fate. Just as the train was about to start, fate, in the person of Munstaat, walked up, lifted them out through the carriage window, put them one under each arm, and marched them back home. There have been terrible scenes in the midget household. There was a stormy meeting and an interchange of reproach and defiance between husband and wife. And there have been scenes between Prince Dedale and Prince Colibri. The injured husband challenged the destroyer of his happiness and honour to a DUEL WITH SWORDS in Eegent’s park, and the challenge was accepted. Only on the representation of Justice, in the person of Munstaat, that such a proceeding would mean imprisonment was the meeting abandoned. But the end is not yet. Justice Jeune or, since de minimis non ctirat lex, & tragedy seems the only prospect. The two men glare at one another on the stage and off, and Law and Order in the person of Mnnstaat has to be continually on the watch lest evil should befall.