matter. I, unworthy as I am, represent the sole hope
of the royal family. Therefore to send me after the Firedrake were* 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_."

* Subjunctive mood! He was a great grammarian!

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 passions.

[Illustration: Chapter Four]

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 brother to his grave!"

[Illustration: Page 24]

"Oh, excuse me," said the prince, "I am certain he has merely gone
off on his travels. He'll come back when he's tired: there _are_ no
Firedrakes; a French writer says they are 'purement fabuleux, purely
fabulous, you know."

"Prince Alphonso has gone on his travels, and will come back when he is
tired! And was he then--tired--of _me_?" cried poor Molinda, bursting
into tears, and forgetting her dignity.

"Oh! I beg your pardon, I never noticed; I'm sure I am very sorry,"
cried the prince, who, never having been in love himself, never thought
of other people. And he tried to take Molinda's hand, but she snatched
it from him and ran away through the garden to the palace, leaving
Prince Prigio to feel foolish, for once, and ashamed.

As for Lady Kathleena, she swept past him like a queen, without a word.
So the prince, for all his cleverness, was not happy.

After several days had gone by, the king returned from the solitary
place where he had been speaking his mind