The Knave of Hearts made him no answer.He stood erect and silent， with his eyes fixed on the burning waxcandle.[The youngster nodded， and nodded again， buthe got no response.] He then turned to the Knave of Dia-
monds， and when he had nodded to him three times theKnave leaped from the card to the center of the floor.He said only two words："Wax candle!"
Understanding what he wanted， little William atonce lighted a red candle and placed it before him. The Knave of Diamonds presented arms with his halberd， andsaid：
"Then the King of Diamonds came to the throne—a King with a pane of glass in his chest.The Queen also had a pane of glass in her chest， so people could look right inside them， though in all other respects they were shaped as normal human beings.They were so pleasant that a monument was raised in their honor. It stood with- out falling for seven whole years， but it was built to standforever."The Knave of Diamonds presented arms and stared at the red wax candle.
Immediately， without any nod of encouragement from little William， the Knave of Clubs stepped down， as seri- ous as the stork that strides with such dignity across the meadow. like a bird， the black three-leafed clover in thecorner of the card flew past the Knave and back again， tofit itself where it had fitted before. Without waiting for his wax candle—as the other knaves had done—the Knave of Clubs said：
"Not everyone gets his bread buttered on both sides and powdered with sugar.My King and Queen had none of that. They were compelled to go to school and learn what they had not learned before.They too had panes of glass in their chests， but nobody looked through the glass except to see if something was wrong with their works inside，[and if possible to find out some reason for scolding them.] I know it.I have served my King and Queen all my lile long.I know all about them， and I obey all their orders. They commanded me to say nothing more tonight， so I keep si- lence and present arms."
But William lighted a candle for this Knave too—a candle， white as snow.Quickly—[even more quickly than the candle was lighted]—the Knave of Spades appeared [in the center of the hall.] He hurried along， yet helimped as if he had a lame leg.[It creaked and cracked asif it had once been broken.Yes，he had met with many ups and downs in his life.]Now he spoke：
"Yes， you have each got a candle， and I shall getone too. I know that. But if we Knaves are honored sohighly，our kings and Queens should have triple honors.
[And it is right that My king and Queen should have four candles each. Their story and trials are so sad and unhappy that they have good reason to dress in mourning and to wear a grave-digger's spade on their coat of arms.] Poor Knave that I am， in one game of cards I have been micknamed 'Black Peter.' Yes! But I have a name that isn't even fitto mention."So he whispered，"In another game I am nicknamed'Dirty Mads'—I who was once first cavalier to the King of Spades.Now I am last!The history of my royal master and mistress I will not tell，[for they do not wish me to do so.] The little lord of the castle may imagine their story for himself if he will，but it is a most melan- choly one. They have sunk pretty low， and their fate is not apt to change for the better until we all go riding on the red horse， higher than there are clouds."
And little William proceeded to light three candles apiece for the Kings， and three for the Queens.[But for the King and Queen of Spades， he lighted four candles apiece，]and the whole reception hall became as dazzlinglybright as the wealthiest emperor's palace. The four Kingsand Queens made each other serene bows and gracious curtsies. The Queen of Hearts fluttered her golden fan，and the Queen of Spades twirled her golden tulip in a wheel of fire. The royal couples came down from their cards and frames to move in a graceful minuet across the floor.[They were dancing in and out among the candle flames， and the Knaves were dancing too. ] [Suddenly the entire reception hall was ablaze.The fire roared up through the windows and the walls， and ev- erything was a curtain of flames that crackled and hissed.] The whole castle was wrapped in fire and smoke.William was frightened.He ran shouting to his father and mother，"Fire，fire! My castle's on fire!" Itsparkled and blazed， but from the flames it sang：