`` I accept the alternative , '' he said , `` if your majesty will grant me my conditions . '' `` Name them ! '' said the king . `` Let me be transported to Gluckstein , left there unguarded , and if , in three days , I do not return with my brothers safe and well , your majesty shall be spared a cruel duty . Prigio of Pantouflia will perish by his own hand . '' The king , whose mind did not work very quickly , took some minutes to think over it . Then he saw that by granting the prince 's conditions , he would either recover his dear sons , or , at least , get rid of Prigio , without the unpleasantness of having him executed . For , though some kings have put their eldest sons to death , and most have wished to do so , they have never been better loved by the people for their Roman virtue . `` Honour bright ? '' said the king at last . `` Honour bright ! '' answered the prince , and for the first time in many months , the royal father and son shook hands . `` For you , madam , '' said Prigio in a stately way to Lady Molinda , `` in less than a week I trust we shall be taking our vows at the same altar , and that the close of the ceremony which finds us cousins will leave us brother and sister . '' Poor Molinda merely stared ; for she could not imagine what he meant . In a moment he was gone ; and having taken , by the king 's permission , the flying carpet , he was back at the ambassador 's house in Gluckstein . -LSB- Illustration : Chapter Seventeen -RSB- CHAPTER XVII . -- The Black Cat and the brethren WHO was glad to see the prince , if it was not Lady Rosalind ? The white roses of her cheeks turned to red roses in a moment , and then back to white again , they were so alarmed at the change . So the two went into the gardens together , and talked about a number of things ; but at last the prince told her that , before three days were over , all would be well , or all would be over with him . For either he would have brought his brothers back , sound and well , to Falkenstein , or he would not survive his dishonour .
`` It is no more than right , '' he said ; `` for had I gone first , neither of them would have been sent XXXXX meet the monster after I had fallen .
In So before by for into of that though to