He had just transformed the Rose Princess into a fiddle and was about to transform Files into a fiddle bow, when the dragon appeared to interrupt him.

So he called out: "Welcome, my dear Quox, to my royal entertainment.

Since you are here, you shall witness some very neat magic, and after I have finished with Files and Tik-Tok I mean to transform you into a tiny lizard--one of the chameleon sort--and you shall live in my cavern and amuse me." "Pardon me for contradicting Your Majesty," returned Quox in a quiet voice, "but I don't believe you'll perform any more magic." "Eh?
Why not ?" asked the King in surprise.
"There's a reason," said Quox.

"Do you see this ribbon around my neck ?" "Yes; and I'm astonished that a dignified dragon should wear such a silly thing." "Do you see it plainly ?" persisted the dragon, with a little chuckle of amusement.
"I do," declared Ruggedo.
"Then you no longer possess any magical powers, and are as helpless as a clam," asserted Quox.

"My great master, Tititi-Hoochoo, the Jinjin, enchanted this ribbon in such a way that whenever Your Majesty looked upon it all knowledge of magic would desert you instantly, nor will any magical formula you can remember ever perform your bidding." "Pooh! I don't believe a word of it!" cried Ruggedo, half frightened, nevertheless.