And then the prince told them , shortly , all about it : how the carpet was one of a number of fairy properties , which had been given him at his christening ; and how so long a time had gone by before he discovered them ; and how , probably , the carpet had carried the butler where he had said he wanted to go -- namely , to the king 's Court at Falkenstein . `` It would not matter so much , '' added the prince , `` only I had relied on making my peace with his majesty , my father , by aid of those horns and that tail . He was set on getting them ; and if the Lady Rosalind had not expressed a wish for them , they would to-day have been in his possession . '' `` Oh , sir , you honour us too highly , '' murmured Lady Rosalind ; and the prince blushed and said : `` Not at all ! Impossible ! '' Then , of course , the ambassador became quite certain that his daughter was admired by the crown prince , who was on bad terms with the king of the country ; and a more uncomfortable position for an ambassador -- however , they are used to them . `` What on earth am I to do with the young man ? '' he thought . `` He ca n't stay here for ever ; and without his carpet he ca n't get away , for the soldiers have orders to seize him as soon as he appears in the street . And in the meantime Benson will be pretending that he killed the Firedrake -- for he must have got to Falkenstein by now , -- and they will be for marrying him to the king 's niece , and making my butler crown prince to the kingdom of Pantouflia ! It is dreadful ! '' Now all this time the prince was on the balcony , telling Lady Rosalind all about how he got the Firedrake done for , in the most modest way ; for , as he said : `` I did n't kill him : and it is really the Remora , poor fellow , who should marry Molly ; but he 's dead . '' At this very moment there was a whizz in the air ; something shot past them , and , through the open window , the king , the queen , Benson , and the mortal remains of the Firedrake were shot into the ambassador 's drawing room ! -LSB- Illustration : Page 69 -RSB- -LSB- Illustration : Chapter Fourteen -RSB- CHAPTER XIV . -- The King Explains . THE first who recovered his voice and presence of mind was Benson . `` Did your lordship ring for coffee ? '' he asked , quietly ; and when he was told `` Yes , '' he bowed and withdrew , with majestic composure . When he had gone , the prince threw himself at the king 's feet , crying : `` Pardon , pardon , my liege ! '' `` Do n't speak to me , sir ! ''
answered the king , very angrily ; and the poor prince XXXXX himself at the feet of the queen .
Do blushed discovered got killed seize shot speak threw withdrew