Part 43 (1/2)

_Ogre_: The law! That is the Judge's trade.

Breaking it is mine.

_5th Prince_: Ask him for it and maybe he will give it to you, he is so kind.

_Ogre_: I'll take no charity! What I get I'll earn by taking it. I would feel no pleasure it being given to me, any more than a huntsman would take pleasure being made a present of a dead fox, in place of getting a run across country after it.

Come on now! We'll have the moon wasted.

We'll hardly get there before the dawn of day.

_1st Prince_: Whatever time you get there the Guardian will be awake. There is a c.o.c.k of Denmark perched on the curtain rod of his bed, specially to waken him if there is any stir.

_Ogre_: There is, is there? What a fool you think me to be. Do you see that pot?

_2nd Prince_: We do see it.

_Ogre_: Look what there is in it.

_3rd Prince_: Nothing but a few bare bones.

_Ogre_: Well, that is all that is left of the Judge's c.o.c.k of Denmark, that was brought to me awhile ago by a fox that is my messenger, and that I have boiled and ate and devoured.

_All the Princes_: O! O! O!

_Ogre_: (_Cracking his whip_.) He was boiled in the little pot. Come on now and lead the way, or I give you my word it is in the big pot your own bones will be making broth for my breakfast in the morning! (_Cracks whip_.) Now, right about face!

Quick march!

CURTAIN

SCENE II

_(The Winter Garden, evening. The Servant settling benches and a table.)_

_Guardian: (Coming in.)_ Are the Dowager Messengers come? They are late.

_Servant:_ They are come. They are at the looking-gla.s.ses settling themselves.

_Guardian:_ As soon as they are ready you will call in the Princes for their examination before them, and their tasks.

_Servant:_ I will.

_Guardian:_ The Messengers will have a good report to bring back of them. They have come to be good scholars, in poetry, in music, in languages, in history, in numbers and all sorts. The old Queen-G.o.dmother will be well satisfied with their report.

_Servant:_ She might and she might not.

_Guardian:_ They would be hard to please if they are not well pleased with the lads, as to learning and as to manners and behaviour.

_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe so. There are strange things in the world.