After that the courtiers were very quiet . `` Prince , '' said the king , as Prigio bowed before the throne , `` you are restored to your position , because I can not break my promise . But your base and malevolent nature is even more conspicuously manifest in your selfish success than in your previous dastardly contempt of duty . Why , confound you ! '' cried the king , dropping the high style in which he had been speaking , and becoming the father , not the monarch , -- `` why , if you could kill the Firedrake , did you let your poor little brothers go and be b -- b -- b -- broiled ? Eh ! what do you say , you sneak ? ` You did n't believe there were any Firedrakes ? ' That just comes of your eternal conceit and arrogance ! If you were clever enough to kill the creature -- and I admit that -- you were clever enough to know that what everybody said must be true . ` You have not generally found it so ? ' Well , you have this time , and let it be a lesson to you ; not that there is much comfort in that , for it is not likely you will ever have such another chance '' -- exactly the idea that had occurred to Benson . Here the king wept , among the tears of the lord chief justice , the poet laureate -LRB- who had been awfully frightened when he heard of the rattlesnakes -RRB- , the maids of honour , the chaplain royal , and everyone but Colonel McDougal , a Scottish soldier of fortune , who maintained a military reserve . When his majesty had recovered , he said to Prigio -LRB- who had not been crying , he was too much absorbed -RRB- : `` A king 's word is his bond . Bring me a pen , somebody , and my cheque-book . '' The royal cheque-book , bound in red morocco , was brought in by eight pages , with ink and a pen . His majesty then filled up and signed the following satisfactory document -- -LRB- Ah ! my children , how I wish Mr. Arrowsmith would do as much for me ! -RRB- : -LCB- A cheque for ten thousand purses , payable to Prince Prigio : p114.jpg -RCB- `` There ! '' said his majesty , crossing his cheque and throwing sand over it , for blotting-paper had not yet been invented ; `` there , take that , and be off with you ! ''
Prince Prigio was respectfully but rapidly obeying his royal command , XXXXX he thought he had better cash the royal cheque as soon as possible , when his majesty yelled : `` Hi !
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