Captain Hedzoff rode away when King Padella uttered this cruel command,
having done his duty in delivering the message with which his royal
master had entrusted him. Of course he was very sorry for Rosalba, but
what could he do?
So he returned to King Giglio's camp, and found the young monarch in a
disturbed state of mind, smoking cigars in the royal tent. His
Majesty's agitation was not appeased by the news that was brought by
his ambassador. "The brutal, ruthless ruffian royal wretch!" Giglio
exclaimed. "As England's poesy has well remarked, 'The man that lays
his hand upon a woman, save in the way of kindness, is a villain.' Ha,
Hedzoff!"
"That he is, your Majesty," said the attendant.
"And didst thou see her flung into the oil? and didn't the soothing
oil--the emollient oil, refuse to boil, good Hedzoff--and to spoil the
fairest lady ever eyes did look on?"
"'Faith, good my liege, I had no heart to look and see a beauteous lady
boiling down; I took your royal message to Padella, and bore his back
to you. I told him you would hold Prince Bulbo answerable. He only said
that he had twenty sons as good as Bulbo, and forthwith he bade the
ruthless executioners proceed."
"O cruel father--O unhappy son!" cried the King. "Go, some of you, and
bring Prince Bulbo hither."
Bulbo was brought in chains, looking very uncomfortable. Though a
prisoner, he had been tolerably happy, perhaps because his mind was at
rest, and all the fighting was over, and he was playing at marbles with
his guards when the King sent for him.
"Oh, my poor Bulbo," said his Majesty, with looks of infinite
compassion, "hast thou heard the news?" (for you see Giglio wanted to
break the thing gently to the Prince), "thy brutal father has condemned
Rosalba--p-p-p-ut her to death, P-p-p-prince Bulbo!"
"What, killed Betsinda! Boo-hoo-hoo," cried out Bulbo. "Betsinda! pretty
Betsinda! dear Betsinda! She was the dearest little girl in the world.
I love her better twenty thousand times even than Angelica." And he went
on expressing his grief in so hearty and unaffected a manner that the
King was quite touched by it, and said, shaking Bulbo's hand, that he
wished he had known Bulbo sooner.
Bulbo, quite unconsciously, and meaning for the best, offered to come
and sit with his Majesty, and smoke a cigar with him, and console him.
The ROYAL KINDNESS supplied Bulbo with a cigar; he had not had one, he
said, since he was taken prisoner.
And now think what must have been the feelings of the most MERCIFUL OF
MONARCHS, when he informed his prisoner that, in consequence of King
Padella's CRUEL AND DASTARDLY BEHAVIOR to Rosalba, Prince Bulbo must
instantly be executed! The noble Giglio could not restrain his tears,
nor could the Grenadiers, nor the officers, nor could Bulbo himself,
when the matter was explained to him, and he was brought to understand
that his Majesty's promise, of course, was ABOVE EVERYTHING, and Bulbo
must submit. So poor Bulbo was led out, Hedzoff trying to console him,
by pointing out that if he had won the battle of Bombardaro, he might
have hanged Prince Giglio. "Yes! But that is no comfort to me now!" said
poor Bulbo; nor indeed was it, poor fellow!
He was told the business would be done the next morning at eight, and
was taken back to his dungeon, where every attention was paid to him.
The gaoler's wife sent him tea, and the turnkey's daughter begged him
to write his name in her album, where a many gentlemen had written it on
like occasions! "Bother your album!" says Bulbo. The Undertaker came and
measured him for the handsomest coffin which money could buy: even this
didn't console Bulbo. The Cook brought him dishes which he once used to
like; but he wouldn't touch them: he sat down and began writing an adieu
to Angelica, as the clock kept always ticking, and the hands drawing
nearer to next morning. The Barber came in at night, and offered to
shave him for the next day. Prince Bulbo kicked him away, and went
on writing a few words to Princess Angelica, as the clock kept always
ticking, and the hands hopping nearer and nearer to next morning. He got
up on the top of a hatbox, on the top of a chair, on the top of his bed,
on the top of his table, and looked out to see whether he might escape
as the clock kept always ticking and the hands drawing nearer, and
nearer, and nearer.
But looking out of the window was one thing, and jumping another: and
the town clock struck seven. So he got into bed for a little sleep, but
the gaoler came and woke him, and said, "Git up, your Royal Ighness, if
you please, it's TEN MINUTES TO EIGHT!"
So poor Bulbo got up: he had gone to bed in his clothes (the lazy boy),
and he shook himself, and said he didn't mind about dressing, or having
any breakfast, thank you; and he saw the soldiers who had come for him.
"Lead on!" he said; and they led the way, deeply affected; and they came
into the courtyard, and out into the square, and there was King Giglio
come to take leave of him, and his Majesty most kindly shook hands with
him, and the GLOOMY PROCESSION marched on:--when hark!
"Haw--wurraw--wurraw--aworr!"
A roar of wild beasts was heard. And who should come riding into the
town, frightening away the boys, and even the beadle and policeman, but
ROSALBA!
The fact is, that when Captain Hedzoff entered into the court of
Snapdragon Castle, and was discoursing with King Padella, the Lions made
a dash at the open gate, gobbled up the six beef-eaters in a jiffy, and
away they went with Rosalba on the back of one of them, and they carried
her, turn and turn about, till they came to the city where Prince
Giglio's army was encamped.
When the KING heard of the QUEEN'S arrival, you may think how he rushed
out of his breakfast-room to hand her Majesty off her Lion! The Lions
were grown as fat as pigs now, having had Hogginarmo and all those
beef-eaters, and were so tame, anybody might pat them.
While Giglio knelt (most gracefully) and helped the Princess, Bulbo,
for his part, rushed up and kissed the Lion. He flung his arms round the
forest monarch; he hugged him, and laughed and cried for joy. "Oh, you
darling old beast--oh, how glad I am to see you, and the dear, dear
Bets--that is, Rosalba."
"What, is it you, poor Bulbo?" said the Queen. "Oh, how glad I am to see
you," and she gave him her hand to kiss. King Giglio slapped him most
kindly on the back, and said, "Bulbo, my boy, I am delighted, for your
sake, that her Majesty has arrived."
"So am I," said Bulbo; "and YOU KNOW WHY." Captain Hedzoff here came up.
"Sire, it is half-past eight: shall we proceed with the execution?"
"Execution! what for?" asked Bulbo.
"An officer only knows his orders," replied Captain Hedzoff, showing his
warrant: on which his Majesty King Giglio smilingly said Prince Bulbo
was reprieved this time, and most graciously invited him to breakfast.