m7 PRINCE PRIGIO.

 

“Very!” said the ambassador, with- perfect
truth.
~ “© Caitiff!’ she cries to your butler,” -his
majesty went on; ‘‘perjured knave, thou lest
in thy throat! Gluckstein is a hundred leagues
from here, and how sayest thou that thou slewest
the monster, and camest hither in a few hours’
space?’ This had not occurred to me,—I am
a plain king, but I at once saw the force of her
majesty’s argument. ‘Yes,’ said I; ‘how did
you manage it?’ But he—your man, I mean—
was not a bit put out. ‘Why, your majesty,’
says he, ‘I just sat down on that there bit of
carpet, wished I was here, and here I ham.
And I’d be glad, having had the trouble,—and
my time not being my own,—to see the: colour
of them perkisits, according tothe proclamation.’
On this her majesty grew more indignant, if
possible. ‘Nonsense!’ she cried; ‘a story out
‘of the Arabian Nights is not suited for a modern
‘public, and fails to win esthetic credence.’
These were her very words.”

“Her majesty’s expressions’ are ever choice
and appropriate,” said the ambassador. - -

*««Sit down there, on‘the carpet, knave,’ she
‘went on; ‘ourself and consort’—meaning me
=‘will take our places by thy side, and J shall
wish us in Gluckstein, at thy master’s!’ When
the experiment has. failed,.thy head shall from
thy shoulders.be.shorn!’, So your man. merely
said, ‘ Very well, mum,—your majesty, I mean,’