, or
bake."

Enrico tried to improve it, but could not. So he read it to his cousin,
Lady Kathleena, just as it was; and she cried over it (though I don't
think she understood it); and Enrico cried a little, too.

However, next day he started, with a spear, a patent refrigerator, and a
lot of the bottles people throw at fires to put them out.

But _he_ never came back again!

After shedding torrents of tears, the king summoned Prince Prigio to his
presence.

"Dastard!" he said. "Poltroon! _Your_ turn, which should have come
first, has arrived at last. _You_ must fetch me the horns and the tail
of the Firedrake. Probably you will be grilled, thank goodness; but who
will give me back Enrico and Alphonso?"

"Indeed, your majesty," said Prigio, "you must permit me to correct your
policy. Your only reason for dispatching your sons in pursuit of this
dangerous but I believe _fabulous_ animal, was to ascertain which of us
would most worthily succeed to your throne, at the date--long may it be
deferred!--of your lamented decease. Now, there can be no further
question about the matter. I, unworthy as I am, represent the sole hope
of the royal family. Therefore to send me after the Firedrake were {25}
both dangerous and unnecessary. Dangerous, because, if he treats me as
you say he did my brothers--my unhappy brothers,--the throne of
Pantouflia will want an heir. But, if I do come back alive--why, I
cannot be more the true heir than I am at present; now _can_ I? Ask the
Lord Chief Justice, if you don't believe _me_."

These arguments were so clearly and undeniably correct that the king,
unable to answer them, withdrew into a solitary place where he could
express himself with freedom, and give rein to his expression.

CHAPTER IV.

_How Prince Prigio was Deserted by Everybody_.

Meanwhile, Prince Prigio had to suffer many unpleasant things. Though he
was the crown prince (and though his arguments were unanswerable),
everybody shunned him for a coward. The queen, who did not believe in
Firedrakes, alone took his side. He was not only avoided by all, but he
had most disagreeable scenes with his own cousins, Lady Molinda and Lady
Kathleena. In the garden Lady Molinda met him walking alone, and did not
bow to him.

"Dear Molly," said the prince, who liked her, "how have I been so
unfortunate as to offend you?"

"My name, sir, is Lady Molinda," she said, very proudly; "and you have
sent your own b