Page:A Menina do Narizinho Arrebitado (1920).pdf/45



The prince hadn't even heard this and was already running back to his room. He opened the window through which the traitors would enter and put a trapdoor cage underneath, so that whoever jumped in would fall prisoner. And he waited. A moment later, he heard muffled voices outside and then three heads peering in at the window, very suspicious. The conspirators stood listening for a moment. Then, certain that the prince was sound asleep, they jumped inside and... they fell into the cage!

The prince immediately grabbed a padlock and locked the cage door tight. The crickets, so astonished, had their mouths hanging open and couldn't speak. The prince said nothing. He left the room and went to wake up a faithful cricket, telling him:

— Go and find the captain of the guard and tell him quietly in his ear: — "The three emissaries have sent you to say that the "deal" is done, but they need you to be present in the prince's room". Say it quietly and get out!

The messenger cricket went in search of the captain and found him prowling around the monster's prison. He approached him and repeated the message in his ear. The captain wanted to ask more questions, but by the time he opened his mouth, the messenger had gone.