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The Son of the Kotwal and the Son of the Merchant were chilled through to the bone by the ghost…like stillness around them。 They turned to the Prince； and said： 〃Comrade； let us away。 Let us not stop for a moment in this awful land of ghosts。〃
But the Prince said： 〃Comrades； these people resemble men； so I am going to find out； by shaking them upside down and outside in； whether they have a single drop of warm living blood left in their veins。
IV
The days passed one by one； and the placid existence of the Island went on almost without a ripple。 The Three Companions obeyed no rules nor regulations。 They never did anything correctly either in sitting or standing or turning themselves round or lying on their back。 On the contrary； wherever they saw these things going on precisely and exactly according to the Rules； they gave way to inordinate laughter。 They remained unimpressed altogether by the eternal gravity of those eternal regulations。
One day the great Court Cards came to the Son of the Kotwal and the Son of the Merchant and the Prince。
〃Why；〃 they asked slowly； 〃are you not moving according to the Rules？〃
The Three Companions answered： 〃Because that is our Ichcha （wish）。〃
The great Court Cards with hollow； cavernous voices； as if slowly awakening from an age…long dream； said together： 〃Ich…cha！ And pray who is Ich…cha？〃
They could not understand who Ichcha was then； but the whole island was to understand it by…and…by。 The first glimmer of light passed the threshold of their minds when they found out； through watching the actions of the Prince； that they might move in a straight line in an opposite direction from the one in which they had always gone before。 Then they made another startling discovery； that there was another side to the Cards which they had never yet noticed with attention。 This was the beginning of the change。
Now that the change had begun； the Three Companions were able to initiate them more and more deeply into the mysteries of Ichcha。 The Cards gradually became aware that life was not bound by regulations。 They began to feel a secret satisfaction in the kingly power of choosing for themselves。
But with this first impact of Ichcha the whole pack of cards began to totter slowly； and then tumble down to the ground。 The scene was like that of some huge python awaking from a long sleep； as it slowly unfolds its numberless coils with a quiver that runs through its whole frame。
V
Hitherto the Queens of Spades and Clubs and Diamonds and Hearts had remained behind curtains with eyes that gazed vacantly into space； or else remained fixed upon the ground。
And now； all of a sudden； on an afternoon in spring the Queen of Hearts from the balcony raised her dark eyebrows for a moment； and cast a single glance upon the Prince from the corner of her eye。
〃Great God；〃 cried the Prince； 〃I thought they were all painted images。 But I am wrong。 They are women after all。〃
Then the young Prince called to his side his two Companions； and said in a meditative voice； 〃My comrades ！ There is a charm about these ladies that I never noticed before。 When I saw that glance of the Queen's dark； luminous eyes； brightening with new emotion； it seemed to me like the first faint streak of dawn in a newly created world。〃
The two Companions smiled a knowing smile； and said： 〃Is that really so； Prince？〃
And the poor Queen of Hearts from that day went from bad to worse。 She began to forget all rules in a truly scandalous manner。 If； for instance； her place in the row was beside the Knave； she suddenly found herself quite accidentally standing beside the Prince instead。 At this； the Knave； with motionless face and solemn voice； would say： 〃Queen； you have made a mistake。〃
And the poor Queen of Hearts' red cheeks would get redder than ever。 But the Prince would come gallantly to her rescue and say： 〃No！ There is no mistake。 From to…day I am going to be Knave！〃
Now it came to pass that； while every one was trying to correct the improprieties of the guilty Queen of Hearts； they began to make mistakes themselves。 The Aces found themselves elbowed out by the Kings。 The Kings got muddled up with the Knaves。 The Nines and Tens assumed airs as though they belonged to the Great Court Cards。 The Twos and Threes were found secretly taking the places specially resented for the Fours and Fives。 Confusion had never been so confounded before。
Many spring seasons had come and gone in that Island of Cards。 The Kokil； the bird of Spring； had sung its song year after year。 But it had never stirred the blood as it stirred it now。 In days gone by the sea had sung its tireless melody。 But； then； it had proclaimed only the inflexible monotony of the Rule。 And suddenly its waves were telling； through all their flashing light and luminous shade and myriad voices； the deepest yearnings of the heart of love！
VI
Where are vanished now their prim； round； regular； complacent features？ Here is a face full of love…sick longing。 Here is a heart heating wild with regrets。 Here is a mind racked sore with doubts。 Music and sighing； and smiles and tears； are filling the air。 Life is throbbing； hearts are breaking； passions are kindling。
Every one is now thinking of his own appearance； and comparing himself with others。 The Ace of Clubs is musing to himself； that the King of Spades may be just passably good…looking。 〃But；〃 says he； 〃when I walk down the street you have only to see how people's eyes turn towards me。〃 The King of Spades is saying； 〃Why on earth is that Ace of Clubs always straining his neck and strutting about like a peacock？ He imagines all the Queens are dying of love for him； while the real fact is 〃Here he pauses； and examines his face in the glass。
But the Queens were the worst of all。 They began to spend all their time in dressing themselves up to the Nines。 And the Nines would become their hopeless and abject slaves。 But their cutting remarks about one another were more shocking still。
So the young men would sit listless on the leaves under the trees； lolling with outstretched limbs in the forest shade。 And the young maidens； dressed in pale…blue robes； would come walking accidentally to the same shade of the same forest by the same trees； and turn their eyes as though they saw no one there； and look as though they came out to see nothing at all。 And then one young man more forward than the rest in a fit of madness would dare to go near to a maiden in blue。 But； as he drew near； speech would forsake him。 He would stand there tongue…tied and foolish； and the favourable moment would pass。
The Kokil birds were singing in the boughs overhead。 The mischievous South wind was blowing； it disarrayed the hair； it whispered in the ear； and stirred the music in the blood。 The leaves of the trees were murmuring with rustling delight。 And the ceaseless sound of the ocean made all the mute longings of the heart of man and maid surge backwards and forwards on the full springtide of love。
The Three Companions had brought into the dried…up channels of the Kingdom of Cards the full flood…tide of a new life。
VII
And； though the tide was f