Page:The Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray Vol.20.pdf/234

206 about the past evening, except that Betsinda was the most lovely of beings.

“Well, dear Giglio?” says Gruff.

“Well, dear Gruffy?” says Giglio, only he was quite satirical.

“I have been thinking, darling, what you must do in this scrape. You must fly the country for a while.”

“What scrape?—fly the country? Never without her I love, Countess,” says Giglio.

“No, she will accompany you, dear Prince,” she says in her most coaxing accents. “First, we must get the

jewels belonging to our royal parents, and those of her and his present Majesty. Here is the key, duck; they are all yours, you know, by right, for you are the rightful King of Paflagonia, and your wife will be the rightful Queen.”

“Will she?” says Giglio.

“Yes; and having got the jewels, go to Glumboso’s apartment, where, under his bed, you will find sacks containing money to the amount of £217,000,000,987,439 13s. 6½d., all belonging to you, for he took it out of your royal