rawled on hands and knees to the garret. Here he put on the
wishing-cap; wished for a pint of champagne, a hot bath, and his best
black velvet and diamond suit. In a moment these were provided; he
bathed, dressed, drank a glass of wine, packed up the head and tail of
the Firedrake, sat down on the flying carpet, and knocked at the door of
the English ambassador as the clocks were striking eight in Gluckstein.

_Punctuality is the politeness of princes_! and a prince _is_ polite,
when he is in love!

The prince was received at the door by a stout porter and led into the
hall, where _several_ butlers met him, and he laid the mortal remains of
the Firedrake under the cover of the flying carpet.

Then he was led upstairs; and he made his bow to the pretty lady, who, of
course, made him a magnificent courtesy. She seemed prettier and kinder
than ever. The prince was so happy, that he never noticed how something
went wrong about the dinner. The ambassador looked about, and seemed to
miss someone, and spoke in a low voice to one of the servants, who
answered also in a low voice, and what he said seemed to displease the
ambassador. But the prince was so busy in talking to his lady, and in
eating his dinner too, that he never observed anything unusual. He had
_never_ been at such a pleasant dinner!

CHAPTER XII.

_A Terrible Misfortune_.

When the ladies left, and the prince and the other gentlemen were alone,
the ambassador appeared more gloomy than ever. At last he took the
prince into a corner, on pretence of showing him a rare statue.

"Does your royal highness not know," he asked, "that you are in
considerable danger?"

"Still?" said the prince, thinking of the Firedrake.

The ambassador did not know what he meant, for _he_ had never heard of
the fight, but he answered gravely:

"Never more than now."

Then he showed the prince two proclamations, which had been posted all
about the town.

{The ambassador showing the Prince the proclamation: p82.jpg}

Here is the first:

TO ALL LOYAL SUBJECTS.

_Whereas_,

Our eldest son, Prince Prigio, hath of late been guilty of several
high crimes and misdemeanours.

First: By abandoning the post of danger against the Firedrake, whereby
our beloved sons, Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico, have perished,
and been overdone by that monster.

Secondly: By attending an unseemly revel in the town of Gluckstein,
where he brawled