In a moment these were provided ; he bathed , dressed , drank a glass of wine , packed up the head and tail of the Firedrake ; sat down on the flying carpet , and knocked at the door of the English Ambassador as the clocks were striking eight ' in Gluckstein . Punctuality is the politeness of princes ; and a prince is polite when he is in love ! The prince was received at the door by a stout porter and led into the hall , where several butlers met him , and he laid the mortal remains of the Firedrake under the cover of the flying carpet . Then he was led upstairs , and he made his bow to the pretty lady , who , of course , made him a magnificent courtesy . She seemed prettier and kinder than ever . The prince was so happy , that he never noticed how something went wrong about the dinner . The ambassador looked about , and seemed to miss someone , and spoke in a low voice to one of the servants , who answered also in a low voice , and what he said seemed to displease the ambassador . But the prince was so busy in talking to his lady , and in eating his dinner too , that he never observed anything unusual . He had never been at such a pleasant dinner ! -LSB- Illustration : Chapter Twelve -RSB- CHAPTER XII . -- A Terrible Misfortune WHEN the ladies left , and the prince and the other gentlemen were alone , the ambassador appeared more gloomy than ever . At last he took the prince into a corner , on pretence of showing him a rare statue . `` Does your royal highness not know , '' he asked , `` that you are in considerable danger ? '' `` Still ? '' said the prince , thinking of the Firedrake . The ambassador did not know what he meant , for he had never heard of the fight , but he answered gravely : `` Never more than now . '' Then he showed the prince two proclamations , which had been posted all about the town . Here is the first : TO ALL LOYAL SUBJECTS . Whereas , Our eldest son , Prince Prigio , hath of late been guilty of several high crimes and misdemeanours . First : By abandoning the post of danger against the Firedrake , whereby our beloved sons , Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico , have perished , and been overdone by that monster .
Secondly : By attending an unseemly revel in the town of Gluckstein , where he brawled XXXXX the streets .
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