for she did
undeniably wake, and yet she was not at home, where she had expected to
be. However, she was a determined woman, and stood to it that nothing
unusual was occurring. The butler made up his mind to claim the crown
princeship and the hand of the Lady Molinda; because, as he justly
remarked to William, here was such a chance to better himself as might
not soon come in his way again. As for the king, he was only anxious to
get back to Falkenstein, and have the whole business settled in a
constitutional manner. The ambassador was not sorry to get rid of the
royal party; and it was proposed that they should all sit down on the
flying carpet, and wish themselves at home again. But the queen would
not hear of it: she said it was childish and impossible; so the carriage
was got ready for her, and she started without saying a word of good-bye
to anyone. The king, Benson, and the prince were not so particular, and
they simply flew back to Falkenstein in the usual way, arriving there at
11.35--a week before her majesty.

The king at once held a Court; the horns and tail of the monster were
exhibited amidst general interest, and Benson and the prince were invited
to state their claims.

Benson's evidence was taken first. He declined to say exactly where or
how he killed the Firedrake. There might be more of them left, he
remarked,--young ones, that would take a lot of killing,--and he refused
to part with his secret. 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 t