Page:The Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray Vol.20.pdf/274

246 Hedzoff here came up. “Sire, it’s half-past eight: shall we proceed with the execution?

“Execution? what for?” asked Bulbo.

“An officer only knows his orders,” replied Captain

Hedzoff, showing his warrant: on which his Majesty King Giglio smilingly said Prince Bulbo was reprieved this time, and most graciously invited him to breakfast.

As soon as King Padella heard—what he knew already—that his victim, the lovely Rosalba, had escaped him, his Majesty’s fury knew no bounds, and he pitched the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chamberlain, and every officer of the Crown whom he could set eyes on, into the caldron of boiling oil prepared for the Princess. Then he ordered out