. If I had deserved
my father's anger I would suffer without a murmur, but, alas! he is
unjust to complain of me, when I have always treated him with love and
respect."

"Fear nothing, Princess," said the Captain of the Guard. "I would far
rather die myself than hurt you; but even if I am killed you will not
be safe: we must find some way of making the King believe that you are
dead."

"What can we do?" said Miranda; "unless you take him my heart and my
tongue he will never believe you."

The Princess and the Captain of the Guard were talking so earnestly that
they did not think of Patypata, but she had overheard all they said, and
now came and threw herself at Miranda's feet.

"Madam," she said, "I offer you my life; let me be killed, I shall be
only too happy to die for such a kind mistress."

"Why, Patypata," cried the Princess, kissing her, "that would never do;
your life is as precious to me as my own, especially after such a proof
of your affection as you have just given me."

"You are right, Princess," said Grabugeon, coming forward, "to love such
a faithful slave as Patypata; she is of more use to you than I am, I
offer you my tongue and my heart most willingly, especially as I wish to
make a great name for myself in Goblin Land."

"No, no, my little Grabugeon," replied Miranda, "I cannot bear the
thought of taking your life."

"Such a good little dog as I am," cried Tintin, "could not think of
letting either of you die for his mistress. If anyone is to die for her
it must be me."

And then began a great dispute between Patypata, Grabugeon, and Tintin,
and they came to high words, until at last Grabugeon, who was quicker
than the others, ran up to the very top of the nearest tree, and let
herself fall, head first, to the ground, and there she lay--quite dead!

The Princess was very sorry, but as Grabugeon was really dead, she
allowed the Captain of the Guard to take her tongue; but, alas! it
was such a little one--not bigger than the Princess's thumb--that they
decided sorrowfully that it was of no use at all: the King would not
have been taken in by it for a moment!

"Alas! my little monkey," cried the Princess, "I have lost you, and yet
I am no better off than I was before."

"The honor of saving your life is to be mine," interrupted Patypata,
and, before they could prevent her, she had picked up a knife and cut
her head off in an instant.

But when the Captain of the Guard would have taken he