verify the report of the loss of the Princess, he meant to seek her at once.
"But in which direction will you go?" asked the Court Geographer.
"Oh, in any direction!" said the Prince, indifferently. "There is no telling where a boat may drift to."
"In that case," said the Court Mathematician, smiling, "the chances are about one in three hundred and sixty that you will hit upon the right way. Let me show you."
So the Court Mathematician sent a page to the kitchen for some beans. Away ran the boy; only to return in a few moments with the report that the cook wished to know whether he wanted "a pint, or a quart, or how many?"
"I want three hundred and sixty white ones, and one black one," said the Mathematician.
This time the page was gone a long while. When he returned, he explained that it took the cook longer to count the beans than one would think. That they had disagreed, and had counted them twice, to make sure; and then had to send to the grocer's for a black bean, since there was none in the palace.
"There was no need of that," said the Mathematician, impatiently. "I can mark one of the white ones, and it will do quite as well."
So the page ran to overtake the messenger who had started for the grocer's and meanwhile the Mathematician made an ink mark on one of the white beans, put them all into a hat, and shook them well.
"Now draw one," he said, offering the hat to the Prince.
The Prince drew one. It was the marked bean.
"Well," he said, "what does that prove?"
"It really does n't prove anything," said the Mathematician, a little out of temper. "Try again." So the Prince returned the marked white bean to the hat, and after they were well shaken, drew again. This time he drew a plain bean.
