DOI article:
Lee, Vernon: Prince Alberic an the Snake Lady: to H. H. the Ranee Brooke of Saràwak$nElektronische Ressource
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26393#0308
304 Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady
moving its long neck in his direction, and fixing him with its
small golden eyes. Then, slowly, it began to glide round the well
circle towards him. Perhaps it wants to drink, thought Alberic,
and tipped the bronze pitcher in its direction. But the creature
glided past, and came around and rubbed itself against Alberic’s
hand. The boy was not afraid, for he knew nothing about
snakes ; but he started, for, on this hot day, the creature was icy
cold. But then he felt sorry. “It must be dreadful to be always
so cold,” he said, “come, try and get warm in my pocket.”
But the snake merely rubbed itself against his coat, and then
disappeared back into the carved sarcophagus.
IV
Duke Balthasar Maria, as' we have seen, was famous for his
unfading youth, and much of his happiness and pride was due to
this delightful peculiarity. Any comparison, therefore, which
might diminish it was distasteful to the ever young sovereign of
Luna ; and when his son had died with mysterious suddenness,
Duke Balthasar Maria’s grief had been tempered by the consolatory
fact that he was now the youngest man at his own court. This
very natural feeling explains why the Duke of Luna had put
behind him for several years the fact of having a grandson, painful
because implying that he was of an age to be a grandfather. He
had done his best, and succeeded not badly, to forget Alberic
while the latter abode under his own roof; and now that the boy
had been sent away to a distance, he forgot him entirely for the
space of several years.
But Balthasar Maria’s three chief counsellors had no such
reason for forgetfulness ; and so in turn, each unknown to the
other,
moving its long neck in his direction, and fixing him with its
small golden eyes. Then, slowly, it began to glide round the well
circle towards him. Perhaps it wants to drink, thought Alberic,
and tipped the bronze pitcher in its direction. But the creature
glided past, and came around and rubbed itself against Alberic’s
hand. The boy was not afraid, for he knew nothing about
snakes ; but he started, for, on this hot day, the creature was icy
cold. But then he felt sorry. “It must be dreadful to be always
so cold,” he said, “come, try and get warm in my pocket.”
But the snake merely rubbed itself against his coat, and then
disappeared back into the carved sarcophagus.
IV
Duke Balthasar Maria, as' we have seen, was famous for his
unfading youth, and much of his happiness and pride was due to
this delightful peculiarity. Any comparison, therefore, which
might diminish it was distasteful to the ever young sovereign of
Luna ; and when his son had died with mysterious suddenness,
Duke Balthasar Maria’s grief had been tempered by the consolatory
fact that he was now the youngest man at his own court. This
very natural feeling explains why the Duke of Luna had put
behind him for several years the fact of having a grandson, painful
because implying that he was of an age to be a grandfather. He
had done his best, and succeeded not badly, to forget Alberic
while the latter abode under his own roof; and now that the boy
had been sent away to a distance, he forgot him entirely for the
space of several years.
But Balthasar Maria’s three chief counsellors had no such
reason for forgetfulness ; and so in turn, each unknown to the
other,