Page:A Menina do Narizinho Arrebitado (1920).pdf/42



— Who is it?" she said, jumping out of bed, trembling with fear.

— Good evening, beautiful princess," replied a familiar voice. I have a secret to tell you.

It was the frog. Narizinho took a relieved breath and, opening the window, asked him what he wanted.

— You saved my life," replied the frog, "and I want to save yours. Listen to me. After the pebbles had been removed from my stomach, I left the garden and went to hide in a dark corner to heal the cut, looking for a stone burrow. I found one that I liked, and I was dozing there when, at midnight, I heard the sound of voices next door. Since I'm very curious, I put my ear to a crack and started listening. That crack led to the Black Scorpion's prison. At first it seemed to me that the blind monster was talking to himself. But it wasn't like that. The monster was talking to the captain of the guard, whose voice I know very well. They were plotting against the prince, and they spent a long time agreeing on the plans for a revolt to kill the prince and hang all the nobles in the kingdom. They also agreed that the blind Scorpion would ascend the throne, and you would be forced to marry him.