Then he was led upstairs; and he made his bow to the pretty lady, who, of course, made him a magnificent courtesy. She seemed prettier and kinder than ever. The prince was so happy, that he never noticed how something went wrong about the dinner. The ambassador looked about, and seemed to miss someone, and spoke in a low voice to one of the servants, who answered also in a low voice, and what he said seemed to displease the ambassador. But the prince was so busy in talking to his lady, and in eating his dinner too, that he never observed anything unusual. He had _never_ been at such a pleasant dinner! CHAPTER XII. _A Terrible Misfortune_. When the ladies left, and the prince and the other gentlemen were alone, the ambassador appeared more gloomy than ever. At last he took the prince into a corner, on pretence of showing him a rare statue. "Does your royal highness not know," he asked, "that you are in considerable danger?" "Still?" said the prince, thinking of the Firedrake. The ambassador did not know what he meant, for _he_ had never heard of the fight, but he answered gravely: "Never more than now." Then he showed the prince two proclamations, which had been posted all about the town. {The ambassador showing the Prince the proclamation: p82.jpg} Here is the first: TO ALL LOYAL SUBJECTS. _Whereas_, Our eldest son, Prince Prigio, hath of late been guilty of several high crimes and misdemeanours. First: By abandoning the post of danger against the Firedrake, whereby our beloved sons, Prince Alphonso and Prince Enrico, have perished, and been overdone by that monster. Secondly: By attending an unseemly revel in the town of Gluckstein, where he brawled in the streets. Thirdly: By trying to seduce away the hearts of our loyal subjects in that city, and to blow up a party against our crown and our peace. _This is to give warning_, That whoever consorts with, comforts, aids, or abets the said Prince Prigio, is thereby a partner in his treason; and That a reward of FIVE THOUSAND PURSES will be given to whomsoever brings the said prince, alive, to our Castle of Falkenstein. GROGNIO R. And here is the second proclamation: REWARD. THE FIREDRAKE. _Whereas_, Our dominions have lately been devastated by a Firedrake (the _Salamander Furiosus_ of Buffon); _This is to advise all_, That whosoever brings the horns and tail of the said Firedrake to our Castle of Falkenstein, shall receive FIVE THOUSAND PURSES, the position of Crown Prince, with the usual perquisites, and the hand of the king's niece, the Lady Molinda. GROGNIO R. "H'm," said the prince; "I did not think his majesty wrote so well;" and he would have _liked_ to say, "Don't you think we might join the ladies."