“And we are come to enquire into your Sufficiency’s conduct of youroffice，” continued Caspian. “There are two points especially on which I require an explanation. Firstly I find no record that the tribute due from these Islands to the crown of Narnia has been received for about a hundred and fifty years.”
“That would be a question to raise at the Council next month，” said Gumpas. “If anyone moves that a commission of enquiry be set up to report on the financial history of the islands at the first meeting next year， why then...”
“I also find it very clearly written in our laws，” Caspian went on， “that if the tribute is not delivered the whole debt has to be paid by the governor of the Lone Islands out of his private purse.”
At this Gumpas began to pay real attention. “Oh， that‘s quite out of the question，” he said. “It is an economic impossibility-er-your Majesty must be joking.”
Inside， he was wondering if there were any way of getting rid of these unwelcome visitors. Had he known that Caspian had only one ship and one ship’s company with him， he would have spoken soft words for the moment， and hoped to have them all surrounded and killed during the night. But he had seen a ship of war sail down the straits yesterday and seen it signalling， as he supposed， to its consorts. He had not then known it was the King‘s ship for there was not wind enough to spread the flag out and make the golden lion visible， so he had waited further developments. Now he imagined that Caspian had a whole fleet at Bernstead. It would never have occurred to Gumpas that anyone would walk into Narrowhaven to take the islands with fewer than fifty men； it was certainly not at all the kind of thing he could imagine doing himself.
“Secondly，” said Caspian， “I want to know why you have permitted this abominable and unnatural traffic in slaves to grow up here， contrary to the ancient custom and usage of our dominions.”
“Necessary， unavoidable，” said his Sufficiency. “An essential part of the economic development of the islands， I assure you. Our present burst of prosperity depends on it.”
“What need have you of slaves？”
“For export， your Majesty. Sell ’em to Calormen mostly； and we have other markets. We are a great centre of the trade.”
“In other words，” said Caspian， “you don‘t need them. Tell me what purpose they serve except to put money into the pockets of such as Pug？”
“Your Majesty’s tender years，” said Gumpas， with what was meant to be a fatherly smile， “hardly make it possible that you should understand the economic problem involved. I have statistics， I have graphs， I have-”
“Tender as my years may be，” said Caspian， “I believe I understandthe slave trade from within quite as well as your Sufficiency. And I do not see that it brings into the islands meat or bread or beer or wine or timber or cabbages or books or instruments of music or horses or armour or anything else worth having. But whether it does or not， it must be stopped.”
“But that would be putting the clock back，” gasped the governor. “Have you no idea of progress， of development？”
“I have seen them both in an egg，” said Caspian. “We call it ‘Going Bad’ in Narnia. This trade must stop.”
“I can take no responsibility for any such measure，” said Gumpas. “Very well， then，” answered Caspian， “we relieve you of your office.
My Lord Bern， come here.” And before Gumpas quite realized what was happening， Bern was kneeling with his hands between the King‘s hands and taking the oath to govern the Lone Islands in accordance with the old customs， rights， usages and laws of Narnia. And Caspian said， “I think we have had enough of governors，” and made Bern a Duke， the Duke of the Lone Islands.
“As for you， my Lord，” he said to Gumpas， “I forgive you your debt for the tribute. But before noon tomorrow you and yours must be out of the castle， which is now the Duke’s residence.”
“Look here， this is all very well，” said one of Gumpas‘s secretaries， “but suppose all you gentlemen stop playacting and we do a little business. The question before us really is-”
“The question is，” said the Duke， “whether you and the rest of therabble will leave without a flogging or with one. You may choose which you prefer.”
When all this had been pleasantly settled， Caspian ordered horses， of which there were a few in the castle， though very ill-groomed and he， with Bern and Drinian and a few others， rode out into the town and made for the slave market. It was a long low building near the harbour and the scene which they found going on inside was very much like any other auction； that is to say， there was a great crowd and Pug， on a platform， was roaring out in a raucous voice：
“Now， gentlemen， lot twenty-three. Fine Terebinthian agricultural labourer， suitable for the mines or the galleys. Under twenty-five years of age. Not a bad tooth in his head. Good， brawny fellow. Take off his shirt， Tacks， and let the gentlemen see. There’s muscle for you！ Look at the chest on him. Ten crescents from the gentleman in the corner. You must be joking， Sir. Fifteen！ Eighteen！ Eighteen is bid for lot twenty- three. Any advance on eighteen？ Twenty-one. Thank you， Sir. Twenty- one is bid-”
But Pug stopped and gaped when he saw the mail-clad figures whohad clanked up to the platform.
“On your knees， every man of you， to the King of Narnia，” said the Duke. Everyone heard the horses jingling and stamping outside and many had heard some rumour of the landing and the events at the castle. Most obeyed. Those who did not were pulled down by their neighbours. Some cheered.
“Your life is forfeit， Pug， for laying hands on our royal person yesterday，” said Caspian. “But your ignorance is pardoned. The slave trade was forbidden in all our dominions quarter of an hour ago. I declare every slave in this market free.”
He held up his hand to check the cheering of the slaves and went on， “Where are my friends？”
“That dear little gel and the nice young gentleman？” said Pug with an ingratiating smile. “Why， they were snapped up at once-”