Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia Read Online Free PDF Page B

looking for some old Spanish book, when his secretary came and said that the Russian Ambassador was waiting for an interview with his Majesty.
    "Dismal old Muscovite!" sighed the king. "A monarch has not a moment to himself for his private studies. Ah, Prigio! why wert thou not born to a private station? But Duty before everything," and wreathing his royal countenance in smiles, his Majesty prepared to give Count Snoreonski an audience.
    It was all about the attitude of Pantouflia in the event of a Polish invasion of Russia. The king reassured Count Snoreonski, affirming that Pantouflia, while deeply regretting the disturbed relations between two States in whose welfare she was deeply interested, would ever preserve an attitude of benevolent neutrality, unless her own interests were threatened.
    "I may give your message to my august mistress, the Czarina?" said the ambassador.
    "By all means, adding an expression of my tender interest in her Majesty's health and welfare," said the king, presenting the count at the same time with a magnificent diamond snuffbox containing his portrait.
    The old count was affected to tears, and withdrew, while King Prigio said:
    "I have not lost a day; I have made an amiable but very stupid man happy."
    Such are, or rather such were, the toils of monarchs!
CHAPTER V.
    Prince Ricardo Crosses the Path of History.
    {Hand reaching for a crown with wings: p83.jpg}
    "I say, Jack," said Prince Ricardo one morning, "here's a queer letter for me!"
    King Prigio had gone to a distant part of his dominions, on business of importance, and the young people were sitting in the royal study. The letter, which Ricardo handed to Jaqueline, was written on a great broad sheet of paper, folded up without any envelope, as was the custom then, and was sealed with a huge seal in red wax.
    "I don't know the arms," Ricardo said.
    "Oh, Ricardo, how you
do
neglect your Heraldry! Old Green Stocking is in despair over your ignorance."
    Now Green Stocking was the chief herald of Pantouflia, just like Blue Mantle in England.
    "Why, these are the Royal Arms of England, you great ignorant Dick!"
    "But Rome isn't in England, is it?--and the post-mark is 'Roma': that's Rome in some lingo, I expect. It is in Latin, anyhow, I know.
Mortuus est Romae
--'He died at Rome.' It's in the Latin Grammar. Let's see what the fellow says, anyhow," added Ricardo, breaking the seal.
    "He begins, 'Prins and dear Cousin!' I say, Jaqueline, he spells it 'Prins;' now it is P-R-I-N-C-E. He
must
be an ignorant fellow!"
    "People in glass houses should not throw stones, Dick," said Jaqueline.
    "He signs himself 'Charles, P. W.,'" said Ricardo, looking at the end. "Who on earth can he be? Why does he not put 'P. W. Charles,' if these are his initials? Look here, it's rather a long letter; you might read it to us, Jack!"
    The princess took the epistle and began:
    "How nice it smells, all scented! The paper is gilt-edged, too."
    "Luxurious beggar, whoever he is," said Ricardo.
    "Well, he says: 'Prins and dear Cousin,--You and me' (oh, what grammar!) 'are much the same age, I being fifteen next birthday, and we should be better
ackwainted
. All the wurld has herd of the fame of Prins Ricardo, whose name is
feerd
, and his
sord
dreded, wherever there are Monsters and Tirants. Prins, you may be less well informed about my situation. I have not killed any Dragguns, there being nun of them here; but I have been
under fiar
, at Gaeta.' Where's Gaeta, Dick?"
    "Never heard of it," said Ricardo.
    "Well, it is in Italy, and it was besieged lately. He goes on: 'and I am told that I did not misbehave myself, nor disgrace
the blud of Bruce
.'"
    "I've heard of Robert Bruce," said Dick; "he was the man who did not kill the spider, but he cracked the head of Sir Harry Bohun with one whack of his axe. I remember
him
well enough."
    "Well, your correspondent seems to be a descendant of his."
    "That's getting more interesting," said Dick. "I wish my father would go to war with