Read Online A Tale Without a Name by Penelope S. Delta - Free Book Online

sat on the window ledge to show them how to use them.
    “Father,” the Prince then said, “last night I found a letter at Faintheart’s house, only I do not know how to read it, so I have brought it to you.”
    The King took it, put on his spectacles, and read out:
     
    Your Excellency!
    I expect no other visitor apart from Your Eminence today at my house, and so because I have no time to come myself to yours, I am leaving here this letter, so you may find it and know immediately that we, you and I both, are in the gravest danger. The Prince, who seems to be a lion cub and an eaglet too, knows that you never sold your chain of office. He knows some other things besides, which could well damage you, were you to remain here. I am making off as we speak, chain and all, to go to the King the Royal Uncle, where, as I am hoping, thanks to some information that I intend to give him regarding the lamentable condition of our State, I shall persuade him to come to my aid with his army so that I may conquer that fine piece of land that the King refused to grant me as a gift, and which lies yonder by the river. Should you wish to, come and find me.
Bring with you the diamond-studded goblets of the King, and the last remaining jewels of the Queen, which are in your cellar, and which would be worth a fair number of florins. Fear nothing, for there can be no battle without soldiers, victory is ours. Only leave at once.
    Your faithful servant,
                                      Faintheart
     
    The King raised his eyes, and looked at his son from above his reading spectacles.
    “What can this mean?” he enquired, baffled and dazed.
    The Prince took a few steps around the room; he then went back to the King.
    “It means, father, that this letter was intended for Cunningson. It means that Faintheart is not only a blackguard, but also a traitor, and that in a few days, a few hours, perhaps, the armies of the King our Royal Uncle could be invading our State. It also means another thing: that he appears to know things that we ourselves ignore, for instance the fact that we have no army, and that there will be no resistance at the borders.”
    “What nonsense and fiddlesticks!” said the King uneasily. “No army, he says! Drivel and twaddle, I say! I can throw into my uncle’s kingdom thousands of soldiers, whenever and however I wish to. And a hundred ironclad fighting vessels the river shall carry southwards, at my slightest command! We have no army, he says! I shall hang the first man who dares say so again, and I’ll throw his corpse to the vultures, that they may feast upon it!”
    And, livid with rage, the King shoved this crown back to the top of his head, and with long strides marched twice, thrice, up and down the room.
    The Prince glanced with forlorn eyes at the donkey’s head, which gazed with derision at them all from above the gold-leaf cabinet, its tin crown perched impertinently between its ears.
    “Father,” he said at last, “call the Supreme Commander of the Army. He will give us the information we need.”
    The King rang the bell, and immediately Polydorus the equerry appeared before him.
    “Summon the Supreme Commander of the Army at once,” commanded the King, and resumed his nervous pacing up and down the room.
    The equerry bowed, and made as though to leave. But at the door he stopped.
    “My lord…” he muttered, “I do not know who the Supreme Commander is.”
    “You do not know?” cried his sovereign with rage. “You do not know?”
    And changing tone:
    “Hmmm… I do not know myself any more what his name is… Blast and bebother that idiot Cunningson, why did he have to go and kill himself just when I need him? He took care of everything, and knew everything like the back of his hand!… Well, then, summon my chamberlain, Cartwheeler.”
    Polydorus bowed deeply, and left.
    A few minutes later he returned with the Lord Chamberlain.
    Master Cartwheeler was short and