第31章

HOW HEDZOFF RODE BACK AGAIN TO KING GIGLIO

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 BEHAVIOUR 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 EVERY THING, 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!