"I'll give you my sacred word of honour, father, that I'll never meddle with politics again, or start on an expedition, without telling you. I have had enough of it. And I'll turn over a new leaf. I've learned to be ashamed of my ignorance; and I've sent for Francalanza, and I'll fence every day, and read like anything." "Very good," said the king. "I believe you mean what you say. Now go to your fencing lesson." "But, I say, father," cried Ricardo, "was it not strange about the magic carpet?" "I told you not to trust to these things," said the king. "Some enchanter may have deprived it of its power, it may be worn out, someone may have substituted a common Persian rug; anything may happen. You _must_ learn to depend on yourself. Now, be off with you, I'm busy. And remember, you don't stir without my permission." The prince ran off, and presently the sounds of stamping feet and "_un_, _deux_; _doublez_, _degagez_, _vite_; _contre de carte_," and so forth, might be heard over a great part of the royal establishment. CHAPTER VII. Prince Ricardo and an Old Enemy. {The Yellow Dwarf: p123.jpg} "There is one brute I wish I could get upsides with," said Ricardo, at breakfast one morning, his mouth full of sardine. "Really, Ricardo, your language is most unprincely," said his august father; "I am always noticing it. You mean, I suppose, that there is one enemy of the human race whom you wish to abolish. What is the name of the doomed foe?" "Well, he is the greatest villain in history," said Ricardo. "You must have read about him, sir, the Yellow Dwarf." "Yes, I have certainly studied what is told us about him," said the king. "He is no favourite of mine." "He is the only one, if you notice, sir, of all the scoundrels about whom our ancestors inform us, who escaped the doom which he richly merited at the sword of a good knight." You may here remark that, since Dick took to his studies, he could speak, when he chose, like a printed book, which was by no means the case before. "If you remember, sir, he polished off--I mean, he slew--the King of the Golden Mines and the beautiful, though frivolous, Princess Frutilla. All that the friendly Mermaid could do for them was to turn them into a pair of beautiful trees which intertwine their branches. Not much use in _that_, sir! And nothing was done to the scoundrel. He may be going on still; and, with your leave, I'll go and try a sword-thrust with him. Francalanza says I'm improving uncommon." "You'll take the usual Sword of Sharpness," said his Majesty. "What, sir, to a dwarf? Not I, indeed: a common small sword is good enough to settle _him_." "They say he is very cunning of fence," said the king; "and besides, I have heard something of a diamond sword that he stole from the King of the Golden Mines." "Very likely he has lost it or sold it, the shabby little miscreant; however, I'll risk it. And now I must make my preparations."