138 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

Then he called for a servant, to order luncheon
for the shopkeepers, and paper for them to write
their orders on. But no one was within hearing,
and in that very old part of the palace there
were no bells.

“Just pardon me for an instant, while I run
downstairs,” said his Majesty; ‘‘and, it seems
a strange thing to ask, but may I advise you
not to sit down on that carpet? I have a
reason for it.”

In fact, he was afraid that someone might

sit down on it, and wish he was somewhere
else, and be carried away, as was the nature of
the carpet.
_ King Prigio was not absent a minute, for he
met William on the stairs; but when he came
back, there was not one single person in the
turret-room !

“Where on earth are they?” cried the
king, rushing through all the rooms in that
part. of the castle. He shouted for them,
and looked everywhere; but there was not a
trace of tailor, hatter, optician, swordmaker,
upholsterer.

The king hastened to a window over the gate,
and saw the sentinels on duty.

‘* Hi!” he called.

And the sentinels turned round, looked up,
and saluted.

‘‘ Have you seen anyone go out?” he cried.

‘“ No one, sire,” answered the soldiers.