`` Like him ? they 're sure to like him , a young fellow like that ! Besides , I 'll take the sword with me in case of accidents . '' `` But , Dick , it is your father 's rule that you are never to meddle in the affairs of other countries , and never to start on an expedition when he is not at home . '' `` Oh , he wo n't mind this time ! There 's no kind of danger ; and I 'm sure he will approve of the principle of the thing . Kings must stick up for each other . Why , some electing characters might come here and kick us out ! '' `` Your father is not the sort of king who is kicked out , '' said Jaqueline . But there was no use in talking to Dick . He made his simple preparations , and announced that he would be back in time for luncheon . What was poor Jaqueline to do ? She was extremely anxious . She knew , as we saw , what King Prigio had intended about changing the fairy things for others that would not work . She was certain Dick would get himself into a scrape ; how was she to help him ? She made up her mind quickly , while Dick was putting his things together . She told the queen -LRB- it was the nearest to the truth she could think of -RRB- that she `` was going for a turn with Dick . '' Then she changed herself into a mosquito -- a kind of gnat that bites -- and hid herself under a fold of Dick 's coat . Of course he knew nothing about her being there . Then he started off in his Seven - league Boots , and before you could say `` Jack Robinson '' he was in Rome , in the grounds of a splendid palace called the Villa Borghese .
There he saw an elderly gentleman , XXXXX a great curled wig , sound asleep on a seat beneath a tree .
Besides about as for in like of that to while