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The Little Lame Prince
CHAPTER VIII
What； I wonder； would be people's idea of a king？ What was Prince
Dolor's？
Perhaps a very splendid personage； with a crown on his head and a
scepter in his hand； sitting on a throne and judging the people。 Always
doing right； and never wrong 〃The king can do no wrong〃 was a law laid
down in olden times。 Never cross； or tired； or sick； or suffering； perfectly
handsome and well dressed； calm and good…tempered； ready to see and
hear everybody； and discourteous to nobody； all things always going well
with him； and nothing unpleasant ever happening。
This； probably； was what Prince Dolor expected to see。 And what did
he see？ But I must tell you how he saw it。
〃Ah；〃 said the magpie； 〃no levee to…day。 The King is ill； though his
Majesty does not wish it to be generally knownit would be so very
inconvenient。 He can't see you； but perhaps you might like to go and take
a look at him in a way I often do？ It is so very amusing。〃
Amusing； indeed！
The prince was just now too much excited to talk much。 Was he not
going to see the king his uncle； who had succeeded his father and
dethroned himself； had stepped into all the pleasant things that he； Prince
Dolor； ought to have had； and shut him up in a desolate tower？ What was
he like； this great； bad； clever man？ Had he got all the things he wanted；
which another ought to have had？ And did he enjoy them？
〃Nobody knows；〃 answered the magpie； just as if she had been sitting
inside the prince's heart； instead of on the top of his shoulder。 〃He is a king；
and that's enough。 For the rest nobody knows。〃
As she spoke； Mag flew down on to the palace roof； where the cloak
had rested； settling down between the great stacks of chimneys as
comfortably as if on the ground。 She pecked at the tiles with her beak
truly she was a wonderful birdand immediately a little hole opened； a
sort of door； through which could be seen distinctly the chamber below。
〃Now look in； my Prince。 Make haste； for I must soon shut it up
again。〃
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The Little Lame Prince
But the boy hesitated。 〃Isn't it rude？ won't they think us intruding？〃
〃Oh； dear no！ there's a hole like this in every palace； dozens of holes；
indeed。 Everybody knows it； but nobody speaks of it。 Intrusion！ Why；
though the royal family are supposed to live shut up behind stone walls
ever so thick； all the world knows that they live in a glass house where
everybody can see them and throw a stone at them。 Now pop down on
your knees； and take a peep at his Majesty
His Majesty！
The Prince gazed eagerly down into a large room； the largest room he
had ever beheld； with furniture and hangings grander than anything he
could have ever imagined。 A stray sunbeam； coming through a crevice of
the darkened windows； struck across the carpet； and it was the loveliest
carpet ever wovenjust like a bed of flowers to walk over； only nobody
walked over it； the room being perfectly empty and silent。
〃Where is the King？〃 asked the puzzled boy。
〃There；〃 said Mag； pointing with one wrinkled claw to a magnificent
bed； large enough to contain six people。 In the center of it； just visible
under the silken counterpane；quite straight and still；with its head on the
lace pillow； lay a small figure； something like wax… work； fast asleepvery
fast asleep！ There was a number of sparkling rings on the tiny yellow
hands； that were curled a little； helplessly； like a baby's； outside the
coverlet； the eyes were shut； the nose looked sharp and thin； and the long
gray beard hid the mouth and lay over the breast。 A sight not ugly nor
frightening； only solemn and quiet。 And so very silenttwo little flies
buzzing about the curtains of the bed being the only audible sound。
〃Is that the King？〃 whispered Prince Dolor。
〃Yes；〃 replied the bird。
He had been angryfuriously angry ever since he knew how his
uncle had taken the crown； and sent him； a poor little helpless child； to be
shut up for life； just as if he had been dead。 Many times the boy had felt as
if； king as he was； he should like to strike him； this great； strong； wicked
man。
Why； you might as well have struck a baby！ How helpless he lay； with
his eyes shut； and his idle hands folded： they had no more work to do； bad
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The Little Lame Prince
or good。
〃What is the matter with him？〃 asked the Prince。
〃He is dead；〃 said the Magpie； with a croak。
No； there was not the least use in being angry with him now。 On the
contrary； the Prince felt almost sorry for him； except that he looked so
peaceful with all his cares at rest。 And this was being dead？ So even kings
died？
〃Well； well； he hadn't an easy life； folk say； for all his grandeur。
Perhaps he is glad it is over。 Good…by； your Majesty。〃
With another cheerful tap of her beak； Mistress Mag shut down the
little door in the tiles； and Prince Dolor's first and last sight of his uncle
was ended。
He sat in the center of his traveling…cloak； silent and thoughtful。
〃What shall we do now？〃 said the magpie。 〃There's nothing much
more to be done with his majesty； except a fine funeral； which I shall
certainly go and see。 All the world will。 He interested the world
exceedingly when he was alive； and he ought to do it now he's deadjust
once more。 And since he can't hear me； I may as well say that； on the
whole； his majesty is much better dead than aliveif we can only get
somebody in his place。 There'll be such a row in the city presently。
Suppose we float up again and see it allat a safe distance； though。 It will
be such fun！〃
〃What will be fun？〃
〃A revolution。〃
Whether anybody except a magpie would have called it 〃fun〃 I don't
know； but it certainly was a remarkable scene。
As soon as the cathedral bell began to toll and the minute…guns to