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 who 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 Benson 's claim was allowed , the royal prerogative of saying one thing and meaning something else was in danger . On hearing this argument , the king so far forgot himself as to cry , `` Bravo , well said ! '' and to clap his hands , whereon all the courtiers shouted and threw up their hats . The prince then said that whoever had killed the monster could , of course , tell where to find him , and could bring his hoofs . He was ready to do this himself . Was Mr. Benson equally ready ? On this being interpreted to him -- for he did not speak Pantouflian -- Benson grew pale with horror , but fell back on the proclamation . He had brought the horns and tail , and so he must have the perquisites , and the Lady Molinda !
The king 's mind was so much confused by this time , XXXXX he determined to leave it to the Lady Molinda herself .
If besides by for in of on that to with