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 wha 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 tail ; the difficult thing was to kill the monster .
If XXXXX 's claim was allowed , the royal prerogative of saying one thing and meaning something else was in danger .
Benson Firedrake Molinda Prigio William first left princeship waggon week