DOI Artikel:
Lee, Vernon: Prince Alberic an the Snake Lady: to H. H. the Ranee Brooke of Saràwak$nElektronische Ressource
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26393#0313
By Vernon Lee 309
his sword and cut it in two as it descended, and did a number of
similar feats such as are taught only to the most brilliant cavaliers.
Now, as he was going to dismount, a branch of the ilex cracked,
the black barb reared, and Alberic, looking up, perceived the
Jester moving in the tree.
“ A wonderful parti-coloured bird ! ” he exclaimed, and seized
the fowling-piece that hung by his saddle. But before he had
time to fire the Jester had thrown himself down and alighted,
making three somersaults, on the ground.
“ My Lord,” said the Jester, “you see before you a faithful
subject who, braving the threats and traps of your enemies, and,
I am bound to add, risking also your Highness’s sovereign dis-
pleasure, has been determined to see his Prince once more, to
have the supreme happiness of seeing him at last clad and equipped
and mounted . . .
“ Enough ! ” interrupted Alberic sternly. “ Say no more.
You would have me believe that it is to you I owe my
horses and books and clothes, even as the Dwarf and the Jesuit
tried to make me believe about themselves last month. Know,
then, that Alberic of Luna requires gifts from none of you.
And now, most miserable councillor of my unhappy grandfather,
begone ! ”
I he Jester checked his rage, and tried, all the way back to
Luna, to get at some solution of this intolerable riddle. The
Jesuit and the Dwarf—the scoundrels—had been trying their hand
then ! Perhaps, indeed, it was their blundering which had ruined
his own perfectly concocted scheme. But for their having come
and claimed gratitude for gifts they had not made, Alberic would
perhaps have believed that the Jester had not merely offered the
horse which was refused, but had actually given the two which
had been accepted, and the books and clothes (since there had been
books
his sword and cut it in two as it descended, and did a number of
similar feats such as are taught only to the most brilliant cavaliers.
Now, as he was going to dismount, a branch of the ilex cracked,
the black barb reared, and Alberic, looking up, perceived the
Jester moving in the tree.
“ A wonderful parti-coloured bird ! ” he exclaimed, and seized
the fowling-piece that hung by his saddle. But before he had
time to fire the Jester had thrown himself down and alighted,
making three somersaults, on the ground.
“ My Lord,” said the Jester, “you see before you a faithful
subject who, braving the threats and traps of your enemies, and,
I am bound to add, risking also your Highness’s sovereign dis-
pleasure, has been determined to see his Prince once more, to
have the supreme happiness of seeing him at last clad and equipped
and mounted . . .
“ Enough ! ” interrupted Alberic sternly. “ Say no more.
You would have me believe that it is to you I owe my
horses and books and clothes, even as the Dwarf and the Jesuit
tried to make me believe about themselves last month. Know,
then, that Alberic of Luna requires gifts from none of you.
And now, most miserable councillor of my unhappy grandfather,
begone ! ”
I he Jester checked his rage, and tried, all the way back to
Luna, to get at some solution of this intolerable riddle. The
Jesuit and the Dwarf—the scoundrels—had been trying their hand
then ! Perhaps, indeed, it was their blundering which had ruined
his own perfectly concocted scheme. But for their having come
and claimed gratitude for gifts they had not made, Alberic would
perhaps have believed that the Jester had not merely offered the
horse which was refused, but had actually given the two which
had been accepted, and the books and clothes (since there had been
books