`` I 'll deliver up the said prince , alive , at Falkenstein this very night ; also the horns and tail of the said Firedrake . But I do n't want to marry my Cousin Molly . '' `` May I remind your royal highness that Falkenstein is three hundred miles away ? Moreover , my head butler , Benson , disappeared from the house before dinner , and I fear he went to warn Captain Kopzoffski that you are here ! '' `` That is nothing , '' said the prince ; `` but , my dear Lord Kelso , may I not have the pleasure of presenting Lady Rosalind with a little gift , a Philippine which I lost to her last night , merely the head and tail of a Firedrake which I stalked this morning ? '' The ambassador was so astonished that he ran straight upstairs , forgetting his manners , and crying : `` Linda ! Linda ! come down at once ; here 's a surprise for you ! '' Lady Rosalind came sweeping down , with a smile on her kind face . 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 XXXXX a loss for a reply .
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