The position of Claimant to the Destroyership is also,' he added reflectively, 'open to you.' 'Then if he doesn't do it,' said the veiled lady, 'I can be the Deliverer.' 'You can try,' said Mr.Noah.

'There are a special set of tasks to be performed if the claimant to the Deliverership be a woman.' 'What are they ?' said the veiled lady.
'If Sir Philip fails you will be duly instructed in the deeds required of a Deliverer who is a woman.

And now, my friends, let us retire and leave Sir Philip to deal with the dragon.

We shall watch anxiously from yonder ramparts,' he added encouragingly.
'But isn't any one to help me ?' said Philip, deeply uneasy.
'It is not usual,' said Mr.Noah, 'for champions to require assistance with dragons.' 'I should think not indeed,' said the veiled lady; 'but you're not going the usual way about it at all.

Where's the princess, I should like to know ?' 'There isn't any princess,' said Mr.Noah.
'Then it won't be a proper dragon-killing,' she said, with an angry shaking of skirts; 'that's all I can say.' 'I wish it _was_ all,' said Mr.Noah to himself.
'If there isn't a princess it isn't fair,' said the veiled one; 'and I shall consider it's my turn to be Deliverer.' 'Be silent, woman,' said Mr.Noah.
'Woman, indeed,' said the lady.