PRINCE PRIGIO. 63

between the Government of Pantouflia and that
which I have the honour to represent.”

‘“We don’t want to fight; and no more, I
think, do you,” said the prince, smiling.

“Then how does your royal highness mean
to treat the proclamations?”

“Why, by winning these ten thousand
purses. I can tell you £1,000,000 is worth
having,” said the prince. ‘‘I’ll deliver up the
said prince, alive, at Falkenstein this very
night; also the horns and tail of the said
Firedrake. But I don’t want to marry my
Cousin Molly.”

‘ May I remind your royal highness that
Falkenstein is three hundred miles away?
Moreover, my head butler, Benson, disappeared
from the house before dinner, and I fear he went
to warn Captain Kopzoffski that you are here!”

“That is nothing,” said the prince; “ but,
my dear Lord Kelso, may I not have the
pleasure of presenting Lady Rosalind with a
little gift, a Philippine ‘which I lost to her last
night, merely the head and tail of a Firedrake
which I stalked this morning?”

The ambassador was so astonished that he
ran straight upstairs, forgetting his manners,
and crying:

“Linda! Linda! come down at once; here’s
a surprise for you!”

Lady Rosalind came sweeping down, witha
smile on her kind face. . She guessed what it