Drawing the sword of sharpness , he hacked off , at two blows , the iron head and the tail of the Firedrake . They were a weary weight to carry ; but in a few strides of the shoes of swiftness he was at his castle , where he threw down his burden , and nearly fainted with excitement and fatigue . -LCB- The Prince in front of the Firedrake : p78.jpg -RCB- But the castle clock struck half-past seven ; dinner was at eight , and the poor prince crawled on hands and knees to the garret . Here he put on the wishing-cap ; wished for a pint of champagne , a hot bath , and his best black velvet and diamond suit . 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 ! 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 XXXXX the Firedrake .
In as at by for into of than that to