Only he claimed the reward, which was offered, if you remember, _not_ to the man who killed the beast, but to him who brought its horns and tail.

This was allowed by the lawyers present to be very sound law; and Benson was cheered by the courtiers, who decidedly preferred him to Prigio, and who, besides, thought he was going to be crown prince.

As for Lady Molinda, she was torn by the most painful feelings; for, much as she hated Prigio, she could not bear the idea of marrying Benson.

Yet one or the other choice seemed certain.
Unhappy lady! Perhaps no girl was ever more strangely beset by misfortune! Prince Prigio was now called on to speak.

He admitted that the reward was offered for bringing the horns and tail, not for killing the monster.
But were the king's _intentions_ to go for nothing?
When a subject only _meant_ well, of course he had to suffer; but when a king said one thing, was he not to be supposed to have meant another?
Any fellow with a waggon could _bring_ the horns and tail; the difficult thing was to kill the monster.