It was
obvious that a miracle had been performed in his favour, and one
loud murmur, of astonishment or exultation, rose from the
onlooking crowd. The king gave orders for Vespaluus to be taken
down to await further orders, and stalked silently back to his
midday meal, at which he was careful to eat heartily and drink
copiously as though nothing unusual had happened. After dinner he
sent for the Royal Librarian.
"'What is the meaning of this fiasco?' he demanded.
"'Your Majesty,' said that official, 'either there is something
radically wrong with the bees--'
"'There is nothing wrong with my bees,' said the king haughtily,
'they are the best bees.'
"'Or else,' said the Librarian, 'there is something irremediably
right about Prince Vespaluus.'
"'If Vespaluus is right I must be wrong,' said the king.
"The Librarian was silent for a moment. Hasty speech has been the
downfall of many; ill-considered silence was the undoing of the
luckless Court functionary.
"Forgetting the restraint due to his dignity, and the golden rule
which imposes repose of mind and body after a heavy meal, the king
rushed upon the keeper of the royal books and hit him repeatedly
and promiscuously over the head with an ivory chessboard, a pewter
wine-flagon, and a brass candlestick; he knocked him violently and
often against an iron torch sconce, and kicked him thrice round
the banqueting chamber with rapid, energetic kicks.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157