[Prince Prigio by Andrew Lang]@TWC D-Link book
Prince Prigio

CHAPTER XII
2/4

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, with a smile on her kind face.

_She_ guessed what it was, though the prince had said nothing about it at dinner.
"Lead the way, your royal highness!" cried the ambassador; and the prince, offering Lady Rosalind his arm, went out into the hall, where he saw neither his carpet nor the horns and tail of the Firedrake! He turned quite pale, and said: "Will you kindly ask the servants where the little Persian prayer-rug and the parcel which I brought with me have been placed ?" Lord Kelso rang the bell, and in came all the servants, with William, the under-butler, at their head.
"William," said his lordship, "where have you put his royal highness's parcel and his carpet ?" "Please, your lordship," said William, "we think Benson have took them away with him." "And where is Benson ?" "We don't know, your lordship.

We think he have been come for!" "Come for--by whom ?" William stammered, and seemed at a loss for a reply.
"Quick! answer! what do you know about it ?" William said at last, rather as if he were making a speech.
"Your royaliness, and my lords and ladies, it was like this.

His royaliness comed in with a rug over his arm, and summat under it.

And he lays it down on that there seat, and Thomas shows him into the droring- room.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books