`` I wish I were in ` The Bear , ' at Gluckstein , '' said he to himself ; for he remembered that there was a very good cook there . But , then , the town was twenty-one leagues away -- sixty-three long miles ! No sooner had the prince said this , and taken just three steps , than he found himself at the door of the `` Bear Inn '' at Gluckstein ! `` This is the most extraordinary dream , '' said he to himself ; for he was far too clever , of course , to believe in seven-league boots . Yet he had a pair on at that very moment , and it was they which had carried him in three strides from the palace to Gluckstein ! The truth is , that the prince , in looking about the palace for clothes , had found his way into that very old lumber-room where the magical gifts of the fairies had been thrown by his clever mother , who did not believe in them . But this , of course , the prince did not know . Now you should be told that seven-league boots only take those prodigious steps when you say you want to go a long distance . Otherwise they would be very inconvenient -- when you only want to cross the room , for example . Perhaps this has not been explained to you by your governess ? Well , the prince walked into `` The Bear , '' and it seemed odd to him that nobody took any notice of him . And yet his face was as well known as that of any man in Pantouflia , for everybody had seen it , at least in pictures . He was so puzzled by not being attended to as usual , that he quite forgot to take off his cap . He sat down at the table , however , and shouted '' Kellner ! '' at which all the waiters jumped , and looked round in every direction , but nobody came to him . At first he thought they were too busy , but presently another explanation occurred to him . -LCB- The waiters : p38.jpg -RCB- `` The king , '' he said to himself , `` has threatened to execute anybody who speaks to me , or helps me in any way . Well , I do n't mean to starve in the midst of plenty , anyhow ; here goes ! '' The prince rose , and went to the table in the midst of the room , where a huge roast turkey had just been placed . He helped himself to half the breast , some sausages , chestnut stuffing , bread sauce , potatoes , and a bottle of red wine -- Burgundy .
He then went back to a table XXXXX a corner , where he dined very well , nobody taking any notice of him .
as at by for in into of than that to