She guessed what it was , though the prince had said nothing about it at dinner . `` Lead the way , your royal highness ! '' cried the ambassador ; and the prince , offering Lady Rosalind his arm , went out into the hall , where he saw neither his carpet nor the horns and tail of the Firedrake ! He turned quite pale , and said : `` Will you kindly ask the servants where the little Persian prayer-rug and the parcel which I brought with me have been placed ? '' Lord Kelso rang the bell , and in came all the servants , with William , the under-butler , at their head . `` William , '' said his lordship , `` where have you put his royal highness 's parcel and his carpet ? '' `` Please , your lordship , '' said William , `` we think Benson have took them away with him . '' `` And where is Benson ? '' `` We do n't know , your lordship . We think he have been come for ! '' `` Come for -- by whom ? '' William stammered , and seemed at a loss for a reply . `` Quick ! answer ! what do you know about it ? '' William said at last , rather as if he were making a speech . `` Your royaliness , and my lords and ladies , it was like this . His royaliness comed in with a rug over his arm , and summat under it . And he lays it down on that there seat , and Thomas shows him into the droring - room . Then Benson says : ` Dinner 'll be ready in five minutes ; how tired I do feel ! '
Then he takes the libbuty of sitting hisself down on his royaliness 's rug , and he says , asking your pardon , ` I 've had about enough XXXXX service here .
about at by for in like of on though with