PRINCE PRIGIO. 87

 

“And sois that ofa crown prince,’’ answered
Prigio; ‘‘and mine is pledged to a lady.”

‘‘ She shall be a mourning bride,” cried the
king savagely, ‘“‘ unless ’’—here he paused for a
moment—‘‘unless you bring me back Alphonso
and Enrico, safe and well!”

The prince thought for the space of a flash
of lightning.

‘“‘T accept the alternative,” he said, “if your
majesty will grant me my conditions.”

‘Name them!” said the king.

“‘Tet me be transported to Gluckstein, left
there unguarded, and if, in three days, I do not
return with my brothers safe and well, your
majesty shall be spared a cruel duty. Prigio
of Pantouflia will perish by his own hand.”

The king, whose mind did not work very
quickly, took some minutes to think over it.
Then he saw that by granting the prince’s con-
ditions, he would either recover his dear sons,
or, at least, get rid of Prigio, without the un-
pleasantness of having him executed. For,
though some kings have put their eldest sons
to death, and most have wished to do so, they
have never been better loved by the people for
their Roman virtue.

“‘ Honour bright ?” said the king at last.

“ Honour bright !”’ answered the prince, and
for the first time in many months, the royal
father and son shook hands.

“For you, madam,” said Prigio ina stately