Then we rose , flew through the air at an astonishing pace , and here we are ! So I suppose the rest of the butler 's tale is true , which I regret ; but a king 's word is sacred , and he shall take the place of that sneak , Prigio . But as we left home before dinner , and as yours is over , may I request your lordship to believe that I should be delighted to take something cold ? '' The ambassador at once ordered a sumptuous collation , to which the king did full justice ; and his majesty was shown to the royal chamber , as he complained of fatigue . The queen accompanied him , remarking that she was sound asleep , but would waken presently . Neither of them said `` Good-night '' to the prince . Indeed , they did not see him again , for he was on the balcony with Lady Rosalind . They found a great deal to say to each other , and at last the prince asked her to be his wife ; and she said that if the king and her father gave their permission -- why , then she would ! After this she went to bed ; and the prince , who had not slept at all the night before , felt very sleepy also . But he knew that first he had something that must be done . So he went into the drawing-room , took his carpet , and wished to be -- now , where do you suppose ? Beside the dead body of the Firedrake ! There he was in a moment ; and dreadful the body looked , lying stark and cold in the white moonshine . Then the prince cut off its four hoofs , put them in his wallet , and with these he flew back in a second , and met the ambassador just as he came from ushering the king to bed . Then the prince was shown his own room , where he locked up the hoofs , the carpet , the cap of darkness , and his other things in an iron box ; and so he went to bed and dreamed of his Lady Rosalind . CHAPTER XV . The King 's Cheque . When they all wakened next morning , their first ideas were confused . It is often confusing to waken in a strange bed , much more so when you have flown through the air , like the king , the queen , and Benson the butler . For her part , the queen was the most perplexed of all ; for she did undeniably wake , and yet she was not at home , where she had expected to be .
However , she was a determined woman , and stood XXXXX it that nothing unusual was occurring .
Beside For So at in into of on through to