"We've done it! We've finally done it!" Mogey exclaimed, holding aloft a sealed scroll as he entered the gymnasium where Smush was performing calisthenics. "The Empress has agreed to grant us noble titles!"
"Why?" Smush inquired as he hefted a round dumbbell.
"Surely you recall our daring rescue of Duchess Agatha?"
"That lady who fell into the swimming hole down at Merle's Quarry? We just cleared her out because she was in the way of the double jackknife supreme we were about to blow everyones' minds with. Didn't we?"
"Mostly," Mogey admitted. "But that's not how the Empress sees it. What title will you choose? Me, I'm quite partial to the sounds of Viscount Mogey."
"Grand Duke, of course," said Smush. "What else?"
"Good one! But I can't have you outrank me, can I? Perhaps I'll be Great Grand Duke Mogey."
"Well then I'll be Great Great Grand Duke Smush."
"P'shaw!" Mogey grumbled.
"P'shaw yourself!" Smush rejoined. "Say, what are these books? The Little Prince?"
"Dunno," said Mogey, "that's the same box the scroll came in.... uh oh." His face fell as he reread the letter more carefully. "I think there's been a bit of a misunderstanding. The Empress writes: You have my thanks for 'rescuing' Duchess Agatha, the two time Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 meter freestyle. Please enjoy reading these noble titles and stay the heck away from Merle's Quarry. I don't get it - why did she put quotation marks around 'rescuing?'"
"Sadly, my friend," Smush said as he put an arm around his pal, "I think the lordship of Viscount Mogey may still be a little ways off."
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