_I offer a few suggestions and relate other
experiences which happened after I had reached the
palace for which I had so long been striving, where
I meet the “sweetest woman ever born,” whose husband
I have the honor of becoming._
I HAVE but a few more incidents to relate, and I beg the pardon of the
reader for offering here a suggestion or two as to his course on
finishing the book. I trust he will not shy it into a corner of the
room, or cast it forth through the window. It would give me less pain if
he will lay it down softly. I say this as its contents are part of
myself—they came from my brain, and any undue shaking up he may thus
give me would be shocking to my atoms and therefore repugnant to my
“piece” of mind.
If he has been amused, it would be but a gracious act to loan the book
to a friend that he also may be amused; if he has been entertained, the
part of the host is unfulfilled unless he also entertain his guests. If,
however, he be disgusted, he may wreak his vengeance by loaning the book
to some one against whom he has a grudge.
My pleasure has been conserved in the occupation of writing these lines;
for it is somewhat of a relief to have such a quantity of material off
my mind; but I sincerely shall regret it should it rest heavily on the
mind of another; therefore, if such a consummation come, do as I have
done—tell the stories to others.
Craving suspension of punishment for this diversion from the adventures,
I return to them.
* * * * *
I found myself passing through the outer wall of the palace enclosure,
and discovered a number of women on the lawn, of whom I made bold to
inquire if the princess were at home. They nodded assent. I then put
another question, as to where I might have the honor of kneeling in her
presence, and they looked at me with wondering eyes. I was, for the
first time in my life, somewhat abashed, and one of the maids went so
far in taking pity on me that she told me the princess was in her secret
chamber.
I had hoped my troubles were at end, and still I could not comprehend
very serious difficulties could cross me in learning the whereabouts of
this secret chamber, now that I was within the very walls of the palace
and at liberty to do as I pleased within the restrictions of the rules.
So, I looked about me and observed several doors through either of which
I might enter. They were all alike with a single exception; a pair of
wrens had built a nest upon the arch of one of them, and through this
arch I made my way, for did I not pass beneath an emblem of love in so
doing?
The passage, for a distance, was dark and narrow, then widening into a
spacious and well-lighted hallway. I then came to a rotunda, out of
which were several passages, each of which I inspected most carefully,
as I did not intend to fail at this close proximity to the goal.
One of them was floored and walled with red-hot bricks for such a
distance even if I ran with my greatest speed I should perish by their
heat before I reached the end; and yet, I was positive this was the way
to the secret chamber.
There was a splendid fountain playing into a large basin in the center
of the rotunda, and to this I made my way. I could remember nothing in
the rules that forbade my wetting myself most thoroughly; indeed, had
there been I had broken them already. I therefore lay down in the basin
until I was completely saturated. I also soaked my mantle and wrapped it
about my head, leaving but a small hole through which I could keep my
direction. Dripping with moisture I made a dash for the heated passage,
ran with my utmost speed through it; but so hot was it, when I had
reached the end of it, I was as dry as a bone, but not even a hair was
scorched.
I was now in another rotunda, in which was a magnificent table on which
were many jars filled with perfume and oils. Like the previous rotunda
there were several passages leading from this, one of which seemed to be
in process of repair, as I at first thought. Upon mature deliberation,
however, I determined it was specially prepared and that I must overcome
it to reach the secret chamber. Its floor was covered several inches
deep with pitch of the most tenacious kind, and I was certain did I put
my boot down firmly on it, it would in all probability remain right
there; for so adhesive was this pitch it could not let go when it had
once taken hold.
As was my custom, I sat down and contemplated it for a few moments; then
arose, went to the table, selecting therefrom a bottle of very heavy
oil. With this I anointed my boots from the soles to above the ankles,
knowing the pitch would not adhere to oil of such consistency.