CHAPTER VII. Prince Ricardo and an Old Enemy. 

{The Yellow Dwarf: p123.jpg} 

"There is one brute I wish I could get upsides with," said Ricardo, at breakfast one morning, his mouth full of sardine. 

"Really, Ricardo, your language is most unprincely," said his august father; "I am always noticing it. You mean, I suppose, that there is one enemy of the human race whom you wish to abolish. What is the name of the doomed foe?" 

"Well, he is the greatest villain in history," said Ricardo. "You must have read about him, sir, the Yellow Dwarf." 

"Yes, I have certainly studied what is told us about him," said the king. "He is no favourite of mine." 

"He is the only one, if you notice, sir, of all the scoundrels about whom our ancestors inform us, who escaped the doom which he richly merited at the sword of a good knight." 

You may here remark that, since Dick took to his studies, he could speak, when he chose, like a printed book, which was by no means the case before. 

"If you remember, sir, he polished off--I mean, he slew--the King of the Golden Mines and the beautiful, though frivolous, Princess Frutilla. All that the friendly Mermaid could do for them was to turn them into a pair of beautiful trees which intertwine their branches. Not much use in _that_, sir! And nothing was done to the scoundrel. He may be going on still; and, with your leave, I'll go and try a sword-thrust with him. Francalanza says I'm improving uncommon." 
Who died with her?
"If you remember, sir, he polished off--I mean, he slew--the King of the Golden Mines and the beautiful, though frivolous, Princess Frutilla